Facts Of Life: Brand New Day

Chapter 3

III

Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?

I must be strong
And carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven

Would you hold my hand
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven?

I'll find my way
Through night and day
'Cause I know I just can't stay
Here in heaven

Time can bring you down
Time can bend your knees
Time can break your heart
Have you begging please, begging please

Beyond the door
There's peace I'm sure
And I know there'll be no more
Tears in heaven

Tears In Heaven, Eric Clapton

The staring match was getting uncomfortable for everyone, Blair finally moving, taking her mother by the arm and heading back outside. Mrs. Garrett went to alert Jo, who she knew wouldn't be happy.

"I've tried calling you for a month, Mother: no answer; no message. Nothing! And you just show up here at Daddy's wake like this?"

"Are you telling me that I don't have a right to be here, Blair Patricia Warner? I was married to your father for sixteen years. And despite our divorce, I will always love him."

"No, I won't tell you that you have no right to be here", Blair spat back at her mother, "but with no communication from you, I figured you'd be hiding in France, or Spain, or God-knows where, feeling sorry for yourself."

"I came here to pay my respects to your father, Blair." She had an afterthought. "And to you as well. I can't imagine what it's been like here since those...since the attacks."

"Yes, and you're so broken up about it, that I had to get Mrs. Garrett to call you and tell you Daddy's remains were identified. You didn't even bother to call me back."

"I'm here now, my dear", Monica said defensively. "Now can we not make a scene, and get through the next few days? I'm sure we'll have a chance to sit down and talk."

"Oh, believe me, Mother, we will", Blair said with a sharp edge in her voice. "Now, please come in."

Monica nodded, re-entering the building behind her daughter.

________________________________________________________

Edna had stopped Jo from rushing head-long out the door and confronting Monica Warner. Unlike David Warner, who had always treated Jo with kindness and respect, Monica had disliked The Bronx native since they first met, her mother's instincts telling her when the girls were still teenagers, that Jo was in love with her daughter.

"Give them a few moments, Jo", Mrs. G. advised her in measured tones. "They went out front. Let them sort it out."

"If that...if Monica does anything to upset Blair in the next couple of days, we're gonna back here, holding another wake." The tone of her voice was pure ice. Edna knew Jo didn't mean the words, but it could foreshadow trouble. Jo did relent, and wait for her girlfriend to come back into the service.

It took a few minutes, but Blair appeared, her mother behind her. From the looks of things, both women were giving the appearance of normalcy-if such thing existed in a situation like this-pleasantly smiling at others, striking up conversations. Jo wasn't fooled.