funeral arrangements

“Ah, yes, the garden club lady,” said Jerry, shaking her hand.

     “Have we met?” Merideth asked brightly.

    “I don’t believe so, and surely I would remember,” he inclined his head gallantly.

     Although Merideth considered herself a tough old bird, she was not proof against a handsome man flirting with her. A very handsome man.

      He took her arm and guided her through the crowd and out onto the porch overlooking Crescent Beach.

     “May I get you something to drink? Coffee? Wine?”

     Merideth considered balancing a cup and saucer. Oh well, she thought. It was practically five o’clock. The sun was almost under the yardarm. “I’ll have a small glass of red wine. Thank you.”

     He disappeared indoors and she took a breath. Hopefully he was getting an alcoholic drink as well. She needed to forget about those sapphire eyes and those shoulders and get him talking.

      Young Earl walked through the door onto the porch. He looked as if he wanted to bolt back indoors when he saw her, but grudgingly nodded. “Never been out here since the new people,” he said.

    “Me neither. Beautiful view.” She wondered what he was doing here. Socializing wasn’t his thing, and he must have known she would be here. He stood awkwardly, hands by his side, until he saw Jerry coming towards her with a drink in each hand, then nodded and bumbled back indoors.

      “Thank you. Do you come here often?” she asked coyly.

     He sipped a clear, fizzy liquid with a slice of lime.  Club soda?

    “Not nearly as often as I will in future,” he teased. “I’m Jerry.”

    “Oh, you like the view? It is marvelous, isn’t it. And your sister—Catherine is your sister?—has done an excellent job of framing it with the nice new railings and hanging baskets.” He didn’t need to know that she deplored geraniums. Even pink ones. The smell! “I am Merideth.”

     “Merry Death,” he said. “How odd. The Merry part I understand.”

    “I’m probably looking like death warmed over right now,” said Merideth. “That funeral took it out of me.”

     He looked solemn. “Yes. A terrible thing.”