Twisted Saga ReGenesis (Book 3 of 3)

Chapter 13 - Funeral Drama

James has become a ghost ever since everyone left the house. He's been on a nonstop drinking binge. He feels guilty over not able to help his friends out more. Stumbling around his house, James trips over anything in his way and laughs at times.

"Now, I know how to stop it all. I stay numb, and I don't feel a goddamn thing." He slurs, kicking his ottoman repeatedly.

A couple of days after the tragedies are spent mostly in silence, pain, and anger towards one another. Lucas has packed up, waiting on the release of his father's body from the hospital morgue to transport back home to Europe.

Gweny and Delilah have become the outsiders to the family, having Josh's body cremated after a private viewing. Audrey hasn't said a single word to her, and Sara's nearly been transformed into the enemy being there to support Gwen's decision.

Sara convinces Audrey and Gwen to lunch after they make funeral arrangements

"Hey, I need you both to be civilized for just a little while, please." She begins as she wipes her eyes with a napkin

"I can do that. After all, I'm not some ice princess that burnt my husband's body." Audrey insults, looking away from Gwen.

"Hey, I get it okay, it goes against your religious code to cremate a body, but Josh doesn't want to be buried back home. We agreed to this years ago, and if you think I don't want to be buried with my husband, you're crazier than you let on." Gwen retorts directly across from Audrey.

"Stop it, right now, both of you! This is not what they died for. They did not give up their lives for us to act this way!" Sara scolds her mother and Gwen.

Both combatants bow their heads before they apologize.

"I'm sorry, girl..." Gwen states.

"Yeah, it won't happen again. I'm sorry too." Audrey says with her hands in her lap.

"I know tensions are high between everyone, but if we fight amongst ourselves now, it doesn't honor any of them." Sara continues to scold, smacking her hands on the table.

The onslaught of the scolding doesn't end there.

"They were family, and we are family, something we all lost when grandma died, and it all went to shit. You and Josh vanished. James became a dickhead, and mom became a bigger religious nutcase. Which I can understand being since Sean is huge in your church."

"Yeah, but I mean, if I can say, why would Josh want to be ashes?" Audrey asks, looking into Gwen's eyes.

"Because he's been to so many places that he loved to visit that he wants to remain in his favorite place, the Blue Ridge Mountains. As much as I love that man and I miss him when we go there, I know I'll be able to be at peace with him scattered at places he loves." She says, keeping eye contact with Audrey.

Together the three of them sit and stare at each other until the server approaches their table.

"Hello ladies, welcome to Applebee's. I'm Michael, and I will be serving you today. Can I start you out with anything to drink?" The friendly, kind overweight young man with light blue eyes greets the three beautiful women with a smile.

"Oh yeah, I'll take a Bud Light and water with lemon, please." Sara orders.

"I'll take an unsweet tea," Audrey says second, and Gwen goes last.

"I'd like a Long Island Iced Tea, please, and a water with lemon too, please."

Before he walks away, he engages them in a short conversation.

"Ladies, would you like an appetizer? Maybe some mozzarella sticks or maybe some sliders or wings?"

"Chips and salsa sound nice, thank you, sweetness," Gwen tells him.