picked up a pencil and started a list of questions to ask when we went to the shops. I left her to it and straightened the rest of the rooms. Before I righted the paintings, I checked behind each one which revealed nothing.
About a half hour later and a wide yawn, I trundled back into the kitchen. Lola had changed into pajamas and was ready for bed. The hour was late and exhaustion cloaked my body and mind. I followed suit and we bunked in for the night.
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Chapter 8
After a fitful night's rest, I left Lola to her schedule and drove to Cranston. I stopped at Nardolillo's to speak with Avery, the owner's son. He'd arrived just as I parked the Volvo. With a wave of his hand, Avery waited for me to join him at the entry to the funeral home offices.
"Long time since I've seen ya, Vinnie. How ya been since yer aunt died?” He was a bit rough around the edges, especially when it came to dealing with the public, but I liked him anyway. An honest, open personality was worth a lot as far as I was concerned and that's exactly what Avery had. His uncle dealt with the public in a smooth, most sophisticated, and sympathetic manner. Avery drove the limo and showed customers the casket room. Yeah, that was a job I'd stand in line for.
"I've been better, but thanks for asking, Avery. I'm here to pick up Livvy's death certificates for my mother."
We'd entered the long, quiet corridor. I followed the slim man with whom I'd gone to elementary school. His father had sent him to a private Catholic high school after elementary school. Since then I'd only seen Avery when there were funerals in the family. He asked me out every time we met and to be honest here, I just couldn't get past the mortuary thing, so I'd made up excuses to refuse in a kind way.
He hustled me into the office and rummaged through the paperwork on the desk. Bright eyes accompanied a sweet smile as the envelope with the name Esposito came to light. Handing them over, Avery said if I needed anything else to just call.
With thanks, I left before he could ask me out. It was a close call. I started out the door when he called my name. I pretended not to hear him and scuttled to the car as quickly as I could without breaking into a dead run.
Relieved, I drove to my mother's house and strode into the kitchen, thankful that I'd been spared the effort of another excuse not to date Avery. Mom glanced up from the sofa as I entered the family room.
"You look like you've seen a ghost. Are you all right, Lavinia?"
"Yeah, everything's fine. I picked up the death certificates for you and ran into Avery. Honestly, I almost ran from the building. He asks me out every time I go there.” I knew I whined, but didn't care. After all, this was my mother.
"He is a very nice young man and well to do, too.” Her eyebrows arched as I shuddered. “You know, that young man who came by the other night is also very nice, Lavinia.” Her eyes were hopeful.
"Mom, forget the matchmaking thing, eh? I'm not interested in marriage. I can't abide the thought of life or even a date with Avery. He's really nice, but I can't get past the hearse driving and casket thing. So far as Richmond goes, well I'd like to just use him for sex, but he's all business. That means my chances are slight."
My mother, used to my blunt language, didn't take it seriously for a moment, thank God. The last thing I'd want my mother to do is to think her daughter is a wanton woman, even if it was true.
The envelope sat idle in my hands. I smoothed the surface, unable to bring myself to open the damned thing. I glanced up when my mother held her hand out. She waited patiently for me to give her the packet. Staring into her calm, sad eyes, I laid it in her palm.
Her gaze rested on it for a moment before she tore the end off the business sized envelope. Tipping it to the side, she slid the copies of the certificates from within and unfolded the sheets of paper. Her dark eyes flew over the words and
About a half hour later and a wide yawn, I trundled back into the kitchen. Lola had changed into pajamas and was ready for bed. The hour was late and exhaustion cloaked my body and mind. I followed suit and we bunked in for the night.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 8
After a fitful night's rest, I left Lola to her schedule and drove to Cranston. I stopped at Nardolillo's to speak with Avery, the owner's son. He'd arrived just as I parked the Volvo. With a wave of his hand, Avery waited for me to join him at the entry to the funeral home offices.
"Long time since I've seen ya, Vinnie. How ya been since yer aunt died?” He was a bit rough around the edges, especially when it came to dealing with the public, but I liked him anyway. An honest, open personality was worth a lot as far as I was concerned and that's exactly what Avery had. His uncle dealt with the public in a smooth, most sophisticated, and sympathetic manner. Avery drove the limo and showed customers the casket room. Yeah, that was a job I'd stand in line for.
"I've been better, but thanks for asking, Avery. I'm here to pick up Livvy's death certificates for my mother."
We'd entered the long, quiet corridor. I followed the slim man with whom I'd gone to elementary school. His father had sent him to a private Catholic high school after elementary school. Since then I'd only seen Avery when there were funerals in the family. He asked me out every time we met and to be honest here, I just couldn't get past the mortuary thing, so I'd made up excuses to refuse in a kind way.
He hustled me into the office and rummaged through the paperwork on the desk. Bright eyes accompanied a sweet smile as the envelope with the name Esposito came to light. Handing them over, Avery said if I needed anything else to just call.
With thanks, I left before he could ask me out. It was a close call. I started out the door when he called my name. I pretended not to hear him and scuttled to the car as quickly as I could without breaking into a dead run.
Relieved, I drove to my mother's house and strode into the kitchen, thankful that I'd been spared the effort of another excuse not to date Avery. Mom glanced up from the sofa as I entered the family room.
"You look like you've seen a ghost. Are you all right, Lavinia?"
"Yeah, everything's fine. I picked up the death certificates for you and ran into Avery. Honestly, I almost ran from the building. He asks me out every time I go there.” I knew I whined, but didn't care. After all, this was my mother.
"He is a very nice young man and well to do, too.” Her eyebrows arched as I shuddered. “You know, that young man who came by the other night is also very nice, Lavinia.” Her eyes were hopeful.
"Mom, forget the matchmaking thing, eh? I'm not interested in marriage. I can't abide the thought of life or even a date with Avery. He's really nice, but I can't get past the hearse driving and casket thing. So far as Richmond goes, well I'd like to just use him for sex, but he's all business. That means my chances are slight."
My mother, used to my blunt language, didn't take it seriously for a moment, thank God. The last thing I'd want my mother to do is to think her daughter is a wanton woman, even if it was true.
The envelope sat idle in my hands. I smoothed the surface, unable to bring myself to open the damned thing. I glanced up when my mother held her hand out. She waited patiently for me to give her the packet. Staring into her calm, sad eyes, I laid it in her palm.
Her gaze rested on it for a moment before she tore the end off the business sized envelope. Tipping it to the side, she slid the copies of the certificates from within and unfolded the sheets of paper. Her dark eyes flew over the words and
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