all
the boys in their best church outfits. The women rivaled the pages of the best
fashion magazines and the men were dressed to kill. The Bahamas are known for
the laid back and relaxing atmosphere. Shorts and flip flops were the uniform.
But Ray deserved nothing but their best and their dress showed it.
With a warm breeze and the smells of deliciousness wafting
through the air, the DJ began the speakers thumping with a lively song that had
all the girls skipping and the women wanting their men to dance with them. The
bartender poured drinks and champagne bottles popped with a delicious trail of
bubbles pouring from the long necks. Stainless steel lids were removed from
trays of mouth-watering delicacies and the grill was already producing burgers
and hot dogs with perfect grill marks for the children. As the sun dipped lower
and lower, the thousands of tiny white lights sparkled brighter and brighter.
One of the first things Janie had done to the house after
they purchased it, was to have a wrought iron fence put up in the corner of the
patio. She wanted her children to be able to run and play but be in no danger
of falling into the pool. Now it was filled with children, laughing and
playing, safe, allowing their parents to also enjoy the evening without worry.
On the outside, to strangers, the Lathem clan looked not
only wealthy, but happy, too. And they were. Although tempers occasionally
flared, and differences of opinions made for healthy debate, the brothers were
all best friends and their spouses had also become inseparable. They were a
close knit group and when choosing the company they’d best like to socialize
with, they were happiest with each other. Laughter, good-natured teasing,
joking and conversation filled the air as the adults ate and drank and
celebrated.
Maureen sat next to her husband and joyously watched her
family. In ten short years they had grown in leaps and bounds and she wasn’t
sure her heart could hold any more love. Yet they’d just learned that another
baby was coming and the excitement she felt was overwhelming. As all the
younger grandchildren sat at tables and ate a smile formed on her lips.
“You look beautiful, my love,” Peter said as he reached for
her hand and brought it to his lips for a chaste kiss.
Maureen smiled and sighed. “There are moments like this that
couldn’t be any more perfect.”
“Except that we are celebrating the life of a man who is no
longer with us.”
“My darling,” Maureen whispered, fully aware of the guilt he
felt. “The only person to blame for Ray’s death is that vile creature who shot
him. This is not your fault and I know that Ray would not want you
blaming yourself.”
He exhaled and dropped his head. “How can I not feel guilty?
It was because of me he was there!”
“Well, if you’re going to play that game, it was my fault
then! I was the one who needed the aspirin. You went there for me!”
“This is not your fault,” Peter declared forcefully. “Not
ever your fault.” He looked horrified she would even suggest such a thing.
“That’s right…it isn’t. And it isn’t yours either. It was a
tragic thing that none of us predicted, but I tell you what. He would’ve gone
into that store even if he’d known what the outcome was going to be. He was
that kind of a man and we should be grateful we had him as part of our family
for as long as we did. I know that I can never understand or comprehend what
you went through that day and I pray to God that it never happens again, but by
golly, Peter, we need to move on. For Ray.”
“Amen!” injected Matt, who’d silently approached his parents
and overheard their conversation.
Peter looked from his son to his wife of nearly sixty years
and nodded. “For Ray,” he whispered.
12.
Ghosts
Tummies full. Feet tired. Eyelids heavy. The party had been
a smashing success. As little princes and princesses were carried to bed, and
the vans loaded and driven away, the lights of
the boys in their best church outfits. The women rivaled the pages of the best
fashion magazines and the men were dressed to kill. The Bahamas are known for
the laid back and relaxing atmosphere. Shorts and flip flops were the uniform.
But Ray deserved nothing but their best and their dress showed it.
With a warm breeze and the smells of deliciousness wafting
through the air, the DJ began the speakers thumping with a lively song that had
all the girls skipping and the women wanting their men to dance with them. The
bartender poured drinks and champagne bottles popped with a delicious trail of
bubbles pouring from the long necks. Stainless steel lids were removed from
trays of mouth-watering delicacies and the grill was already producing burgers
and hot dogs with perfect grill marks for the children. As the sun dipped lower
and lower, the thousands of tiny white lights sparkled brighter and brighter.
One of the first things Janie had done to the house after
they purchased it, was to have a wrought iron fence put up in the corner of the
patio. She wanted her children to be able to run and play but be in no danger
of falling into the pool. Now it was filled with children, laughing and
playing, safe, allowing their parents to also enjoy the evening without worry.
On the outside, to strangers, the Lathem clan looked not
only wealthy, but happy, too. And they were. Although tempers occasionally
flared, and differences of opinions made for healthy debate, the brothers were
all best friends and their spouses had also become inseparable. They were a
close knit group and when choosing the company they’d best like to socialize
with, they were happiest with each other. Laughter, good-natured teasing,
joking and conversation filled the air as the adults ate and drank and
celebrated.
Maureen sat next to her husband and joyously watched her
family. In ten short years they had grown in leaps and bounds and she wasn’t
sure her heart could hold any more love. Yet they’d just learned that another
baby was coming and the excitement she felt was overwhelming. As all the
younger grandchildren sat at tables and ate a smile formed on her lips.
“You look beautiful, my love,” Peter said as he reached for
her hand and brought it to his lips for a chaste kiss.
Maureen smiled and sighed. “There are moments like this that
couldn’t be any more perfect.”
“Except that we are celebrating the life of a man who is no
longer with us.”
“My darling,” Maureen whispered, fully aware of the guilt he
felt. “The only person to blame for Ray’s death is that vile creature who shot
him. This is not your fault and I know that Ray would not want you
blaming yourself.”
He exhaled and dropped his head. “How can I not feel guilty?
It was because of me he was there!”
“Well, if you’re going to play that game, it was my fault
then! I was the one who needed the aspirin. You went there for me!”
“This is not your fault,” Peter declared forcefully. “Not
ever your fault.” He looked horrified she would even suggest such a thing.
“That’s right…it isn’t. And it isn’t yours either. It was a
tragic thing that none of us predicted, but I tell you what. He would’ve gone
into that store even if he’d known what the outcome was going to be. He was
that kind of a man and we should be grateful we had him as part of our family
for as long as we did. I know that I can never understand or comprehend what
you went through that day and I pray to God that it never happens again, but by
golly, Peter, we need to move on. For Ray.”
“Amen!” injected Matt, who’d silently approached his parents
and overheard their conversation.
Peter looked from his son to his wife of nearly sixty years
and nodded. “For Ray,” he whispered.
12.
Ghosts
Tummies full. Feet tired. Eyelids heavy. The party had been
a smashing success. As little princes and princesses were carried to bed, and
the vans loaded and driven away, the lights of
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