Chapter 2

 Jen swept her hair up into a neat bun.straightened her linen jacket, adjusted her blouse’s neck tie and stared at her reflection in the hall mirror. She felt nauseous. 

Cat crept up behind her, gently touching her shoulder. Her elegant tiny friend looked stunning in a matching patterned dress and plain short sleeved jacket. Her hair a shiny blonde bob. Her make up pristine, a deep sadness in her hazel eyes.

Jen smiled gently, resigned. Time to go?

Cat nodded and led the way out to the car. The sun shone brightly, making sunglasses a necessity.

Jen pulled her long straight navy skirt under her legs as she slid carefully in to the White Fiesta.

It was hot in her suit, she wished she had plumped for the orange striped cotton dress.

The ten minute drive to St Jame’s church was mostly silent, other than the ‘did you remember the tissues?’.

The car park was already full, and the streets lined with cars parked precariously along both kerbs. Lots of local town folk lined the pavements to pay their respects, filling the pavements to overflowing among the cars.

Cat thankfully knew of a nearby side road and quickly turned into it. She squeezed between two parked cars, grateful her reversing skills honed in London, were second to none.

They walked through the gated church yard. Several mourners were dressed in black, hovering around, others in brighter more jovial clothes as requested by Gina.

Jen looked around fervently, wondering how many of their school friends may turn up to support Gina.

The whole town were in shock. A tragic and fateful accident two weeks before had taken both of Gina’s dear parents. Her dad was a long standing parish council member, and her mother a lay reader at the church.

A 17 year old had just passed her driving test, and had miscalculated the distance of the approaching car as she pulled out of the side road. Apparently the first time she had driven solo. Her funeral had been overflowing with most of the secondary school she attended, she was such a popular pupil.

Jen knew of her parents, but not her personally. Still she felt overwhelmed with the shock and grief of three lives being taken in the blink of an eye. All long before their time.

Gina had been amazingly strong, she claimed being held up by God’s Grace. Jen did not understand any of that God nonsense, but nodded politely and was more than grateful that if there was a God, that He had her lovely friend in His arms, as she said.

Her stomach churned, as she took the order of service, tears rolling down her cheeks at the beautiful photo of Mr and Mrs Davidson. She followed Cat to a pew near the back and sat bunched up, a little like sardines, as there were few seats left.

Her mind travelled back fifteen years, she was sitting at Gina’s breakfast bar, eating cheese on toast with Branston  pickle. The fresh bread, thick cheese and tangy pickle was heaven on earth. If there was a heaven of course. Never before had she tasted such a delicious snack, and every time she made it since then, she always went back to that first bite.

Gina’s mum was homely and welcoming. Her heart was so big, her smile so beautiful. She had a radiance that came from deep within. Jen always felt part of the family. Looking around at the familiar faces, she realised she wasn’t the only school friend that felt that way.

Gina’s father was a busy man, well respected by the whole village. Jen had found him a little scary at first, but then soon realised he had a wicked sense of humour. She was quite envious of her friends family. Three girls, Gina, her twin and younger sister were always laughing together, hugging each other, life was simple and joyful.

So very different from her own home life.

The solo bought her back into the present. Amazing Grace, Jen recognised the lady from the village, a few years older than herself. 

The vicar led the way, followed by Rita’s coffin, carried by six men, some had familiar faces, Jen guessed they were relatives. Then Frank gently carried by another six, tall strong men. 

Her heart missed a beat. Dark mop of hair, brown eyes, filled with tears....Franks nephew.

She had selfishly hoped he would come today, but felt guilty using Gina’s broken heart for her hopes and dreams. How could she. Her eyes looked to the floor. She could not look at Gina and her sisters, she felt if she started crying she wouldn’t be able to stop. 

There were many muffled sobs around the congregation. When she did glance sideways at Gina she was surprised to see her smiling.

Everyone was encouraged to join in the last verse, people appeared to lift their voices with great passion. Silence fell as the funeral directors helped position the two coffins side by side.

Jen had found the song strangely comforting...when we’ve been there ten thousand years...she didn’t understand why, but those words ran deep into her soul.

She had only been in churches for the usual weddings, christenings and funerals. She loved the architecture and marvelled at the detailed carvings, in the dark wood beams. The sun shone on the stained glass windows, giving an ethereal feel, the images coming to life in beautiful colours.

The arched frames in matching timbers to the altar and pews. Golden candlesticks adorned the velvet covered altar.

The vicar in all his splendour, his expression giving nothing away. It would be inappropriate for him to shed a tear, although he worked closely with Rita. How strange for him. 

Gina’s younger sister Melanie read from the Bible. 1 Corinthians 13...The Love one. She read elequently and Jen found herself listening to every word. Boy it actually made sense. Yes their parents had oozed love and ticked every description of how Love is meant to be. 

She took note that she should read it when she got home. Maybe she would set herself a challenge to aspire to it.

She spotted the back of dark mop, her stomach lurched, and wondered if not coveting your neighbour, included cousins. Something had stuck, if only the Ten Commandments from Religious Education at school.

Gina and her twin, Jane stood together, as one almost. They shared the eulogy speaking with great clarity, laughing at precious memories, giving thanks to God for parents that loved them all unconditionally, for being so Blessed as a family...

Cat gave her a sideways glance. She raised her eyebrows. How did they manage to do that? She whispered amid rapturous applause.

More joyful singing, many holding their arms heavenward. Jen was wondering if any of these people realised the tragedy that had occurred. She could not get over how calm the three girls were. It was surreal. Jane had mentioned being filled with The Grace of God, whatever that was. Maybe she could do with some of that herself. If God was real, of that she still wasn’t certain. How could He take both parents, loving people that did not deserve to die, but had much more life to live.

If there was such thing as a ‘loving God’, it didn’t say much for sticking to the rules. They were a righteous family that Blessed everyone they came across. It did not make any sense.

Jen made up her mind that there was no way the God thing could be true. She continued to ponder how her school friend was not lying prostrate on the floor sobbing.

As they gathered round the newly dug grave, silently fanning out in ever growing circles, the heat from the sun appeared to increase. The mourners filled much of the village churchyard even spilling out onto the quiet village road.

The silence felt respectful yet eerie in a way. Cat took hold of Jen’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Tears rolled down her face, her quiet sniffs breaking the silence. There were others quietly sobbing.

Together they stood balancing on their high heels, trying not to stand on old gravestones, that had fallen and crumbled over hundreds of years.

They could just see through the many friends and family to the undertakers lowering the first coffin in.

Someone nearby starting singing, Great is thy Faithfulness...Jen didn’t know the words, but it felt like everyone else did. The rousing chorus as people joined in was quite beautiful. It choked the girls up as they surveyed so many singing with real passion. Now belting out the words, Jen wished she did know the words, ...she picked up on some of them...’all thy hath needed thy hand hath provided..’

The second coffin was gently lowered on top of the first, it looked like her dad had gone in first. Both girls felt nauseated, the sadness overwhelming them. Cat put her arm round Jen and hugged her tight.

Silence fell. The mourners peeled away gradually, some moving forward in turn to throw some dirt on the coffin. Strange thing to do thought Jen. Dust to dust...maybe that was it.

Gina and her sisters walked towards the wrought iron gate. The crowd parted like the Red Sea to let them through. People nodding, and pulling the ‘I’m so sorry for your great loss’ face. The three sisters nodded back and smiled. They repeated ‘thank you for coming’ over and over as they made their way to the black limousine waiting for them. The funeral director bowed his head before opening the car door for them.

Everyone was invited back to their family home for afternoon tea, at an informal wake.

‘Thank God for the sunshine,’ Gina giggled, as she raised her glass to make a toast. ‘And thank you God for the best parents we could have wished for, they were simply the best of everything...please raise your glasses and drink to ...’mum and dad’...tears spilled out of her eyes and down her cheeks. The strength she had during the whole service just waned a little as she said those words.

‘To..mum and dad’ ching ching went the glasses, tears now free flowing down most faces gathered in their large garden. The stunning flowers were all coming into bloom, spring had sprung in a hundred or more daffodils like a river of bright yellow bordering the neatly trimmed perfect lawn. Huge shrubs of different colours entwined in display of breathtaking beauty.

Who was the gardener? Cat asked Gina.

‘My mum, she had green fingers at birth apparently. Her favourite place was out here nurturing all the plants, feeding the squirrels and birds. Mum at her happiest, especially on a day like today. Perfect blue sky and brilliant sunshine.’ 

 Jen put her arm around her friend and they stood together blinking back the tears. 

‘Nick, hi’

Jen’s heart missed a beat as Gina called out to her cousin.

He sauntered over scooped Gina’s petite frame into his arms and hugged her so tight Jen was fearful he would snap her in two. 

They giggled as he placed her down on the ground gently.

‘Jen, have you ever met my gorgeous cousin Nick?’

As Jen was about to confirm she had passed him briefly on her drive 6 months before, she heard Nick reply...’No I don’t think we have?’

Jen concealed her disappointment that he had not been thinking of her non stop since their chance fleeting meeting, as she had day dreamt often of bumping into ‘dark mop of hair’, possibly at least once a day.

His dimple deepened as he smiled broadly at his cousin. ‘I’m so proud of you all, Aunty and Uncle would surely have been looking down and  saying wow, how amazing are our daughters.

Jen pondered if he believed I  ‘heaven’ or was just saying what he thought Gina understood to be true.

Gina hugged him again, before offering him a refill on his wine.

‘Yes please, but I can go’..’what would you two girls like?’

‘Let’s all go and grab something to eat, I’ve just realised I am starving’ Gina grabbed her friends hand and led her through to a lavish buffet, now half eaten by the hungry mourners.

As Jen tried to consume a small prawn vol au vent, Nick glanced her way and winked as the pastry separated leaving half in her mouth and the remainder spilling down her blouse, leaving a trail of gloopy mix and pastry crumbs down her front.

She could feel the redness creep up through her neck to her cheeks, as she tried to scoop up the debris before it marked her cream silk blouse. She almost dared not look. It was disastrous. The grease from the puff pastry left marks alongside the filling mix.

Nick stepped in holding out a paper napkin.

She grimaced as she gratefully took it from him, and tried in vain to rub the stains out.

He smiled gently, his deep brown eyes framed by dark curly lashes, showed an empathy rather than laughing at her plight.

Jen soon forgot her embarrassment when they spontaneously started chatting about their memories of Frank and Rita, the cottage, garden and many tasty homemade treats. 

They giggled over Franks consistent pranks, that always failed in operation but never failed to make everyone laugh. The shed tears over how much Rita treated them as though they were the most important person in her world, and how they were gonna miss her Victoria sponge cake, and hot sausage rolls, and more than anything those warm hugs that made you feel like no harm could ever befall you.

It transpired Nick used to live close by with his mum, and little sister. His dad had died when he was only 6 years old, his sister was only a baby. A keen cyclist he had been knocked off his bike by a dustbin lorry that pulled out in front of him. He told the story as on autopilot. Too young to remember much about his dad, he spoke admirably and fondly of his mum, and baby sister.

They had all moved up to London to be near his mum’s family after the accident, but continued to stay close to his relatives on his dads side.

Gina and her sisters were the closest cousins in age and they grew up together, and were still very fond of each other now they were grown up.

His mum and sister were unable to travel for the funeral as