the cost was astronomical. Six thousand dollars got him a plain headstone, tiny gravesite, pine plywood box, and a no frills service. Her mother sold off some of her father’s coin collection and gold jewelry, and then emptied her savings account. She could pay for half of the bill. Leah had a secret stash hidden at her mother’s house.
Somehow the women covered the funeral fees, even managing to upgrade to a better package. T.J.’s circumstances required extra attention to makeup. His head had bandages wrapped around it and there was a big hole in his eye from the bat he was beaten with. The mortician promised to fix everything so his face wouldn’t look horrific during his wake.
Besides honoring her brother, Leah’s generosity had the added benefit of infuriating Pete. He didn’t allow her to spend a nickel of her money, let alone thousands of dollars he didn’t know she had. She claimed her mother had paid the bill, but didn’t sound too convincing. Pete also knew that her mother was currently without a job and had financial problems.
Pete must have mentioned a dozen times how she and her mother were ‘throwing good money away.’ He also panned T.J. throughout the week as if jealous of the attention given to a corpse. Every time Pete opened his fat mouth she hated him a little bit more. Things between them came to a head days before the wake.
Leah’s bruises were still visible, but easily hidden with makeup. She bought a fake tooth to fill in the gap that Pete had knocked out of her mouth. By Thursday afternoon she was almost back to her pretty self. She went back to The Dollhouse to salvage her job. The next night, Pete demanded her earnings.
“I need the money to pay for T.J.’s funeral.”
“That’s what? Six thousand? Seven thousand? So you made that kind of money last night? Yeah right. Kim Kardashian couldn’t earn that kind of coin in that pig sty. Or maybe you’ve been holding out on me all this time. You got the money stashed somewhere? T.J. doesn’t deserve a fancy funeral. He was a freeloading piece of shit. Everyone knows that,” Pete slurred.
Just like you , Leah thought. She ignored his bait. He was looking to argue.
“You could have saved the money and had the wake here. Cremations are way cheaper. I would have burnt the body right over in the fire pit. Put the ashes right here,” he remarked while picking up a chipped flower vase.
His comments were eating away. How dare he disrespect her brother, especially after playing such a big part in his death. One positive thing came out of the tragedy. She saw with utmost clarity what a monster she had married. Fear no longer held her back.
“Get out,” she firmly said, looking him square in the eye.
Pete had his meaty hand clenched and raised, ready to strike. Leah stood like a statue in defiance. She saw Jake out of the corner of her eye begin to dress Rhianna in her winter gear for a quick exit.
“Jake, you’re not going anywhere. He is. Go ahead, Pete. Hit me. I dare you. My next stop will be the police. You’re already up to your ass in trouble. Photos of your battered wife along with my testimony won’t help your case. So go ahead and hit me, you son-of-a-bitch.” Her voice was calm, without nerves getting in the way of her meaning.
Like magic, he lowered his fist and thundered out of the trailer. For the first time in a long time Leah liked herself.
“Sorry , Rhi . Sorry , Jake. You both shouldn’t have to live like this. Get dressed. I’m taking you out for pizza at Mario’s. We’ll play arcade games until they close.”
***
Shady Oaks Funeral Home was on the outskirts of town. It wasn’t the most elegant place, but had plenty of parking and seating.
Lucien promised Jake he and some other neighbors would attend the service. Mr. Carillo volunteered to drive. Earlier in the week Jake was briefed
Somehow the women covered the funeral fees, even managing to upgrade to a better package. T.J.’s circumstances required extra attention to makeup. His head had bandages wrapped around it and there was a big hole in his eye from the bat he was beaten with. The mortician promised to fix everything so his face wouldn’t look horrific during his wake.
Besides honoring her brother, Leah’s generosity had the added benefit of infuriating Pete. He didn’t allow her to spend a nickel of her money, let alone thousands of dollars he didn’t know she had. She claimed her mother had paid the bill, but didn’t sound too convincing. Pete also knew that her mother was currently without a job and had financial problems.
Pete must have mentioned a dozen times how she and her mother were ‘throwing good money away.’ He also panned T.J. throughout the week as if jealous of the attention given to a corpse. Every time Pete opened his fat mouth she hated him a little bit more. Things between them came to a head days before the wake.
Leah’s bruises were still visible, but easily hidden with makeup. She bought a fake tooth to fill in the gap that Pete had knocked out of her mouth. By Thursday afternoon she was almost back to her pretty self. She went back to The Dollhouse to salvage her job. The next night, Pete demanded her earnings.
“I need the money to pay for T.J.’s funeral.”
“That’s what? Six thousand? Seven thousand? So you made that kind of money last night? Yeah right. Kim Kardashian couldn’t earn that kind of coin in that pig sty. Or maybe you’ve been holding out on me all this time. You got the money stashed somewhere? T.J. doesn’t deserve a fancy funeral. He was a freeloading piece of shit. Everyone knows that,” Pete slurred.
Just like you , Leah thought. She ignored his bait. He was looking to argue.
“You could have saved the money and had the wake here. Cremations are way cheaper. I would have burnt the body right over in the fire pit. Put the ashes right here,” he remarked while picking up a chipped flower vase.
His comments were eating away. How dare he disrespect her brother, especially after playing such a big part in his death. One positive thing came out of the tragedy. She saw with utmost clarity what a monster she had married. Fear no longer held her back.
“Get out,” she firmly said, looking him square in the eye.
Pete had his meaty hand clenched and raised, ready to strike. Leah stood like a statue in defiance. She saw Jake out of the corner of her eye begin to dress Rhianna in her winter gear for a quick exit.
“Jake, you’re not going anywhere. He is. Go ahead, Pete. Hit me. I dare you. My next stop will be the police. You’re already up to your ass in trouble. Photos of your battered wife along with my testimony won’t help your case. So go ahead and hit me, you son-of-a-bitch.” Her voice was calm, without nerves getting in the way of her meaning.
Like magic, he lowered his fist and thundered out of the trailer. For the first time in a long time Leah liked herself.
“Sorry , Rhi . Sorry , Jake. You both shouldn’t have to live like this. Get dressed. I’m taking you out for pizza at Mario’s. We’ll play arcade games until they close.”
***
Shady Oaks Funeral Home was on the outskirts of town. It wasn’t the most elegant place, but had plenty of parking and seating.
Lucien promised Jake he and some other neighbors would attend the service. Mr. Carillo volunteered to drive. Earlier in the week Jake was briefed
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