"Thank you...thank you so much for coming," Genna's botoxed face contorted into one of pity as she shook the guests hands.
She'd made sure to wear waterproof mascara and keep her beige powder in her purse for touch-ups. Her light blonde hair was tucked in a low bun at the back of her head, held up by a black clip.
She frowned as she watched the elderly Lavinia Dorian sob her way towards the open casket. Her other son helped her, with a generous hand on her shoulder - occasionally giving her a dry tissue.
Genna tried with all her might to stifle an eye roll at her late husband's mother. She'd never been fond of the concept of mother-in-laws - each one she had was another obstacle for her fortune.
Lavinia was actually one of the quieter mother-in-laws Genna had had. She always kept to herself whenever she and Lief had visited - knitting or reading one of her immense, ageless books.
At times, Genna was unnerved by her silence. She would occasionally peek in the old woman's direction to find her gray eyes staring back, but lips sealed.
It was as if Lavinia was always speculating, and each word she uttered was like gold. But Genna guessed talking wasn't easy with a limited number of teeth.
The woman had now, after much time, reached the casket. She held out a shaky hand to her son, who looked very much like a wax statue.
Genna scowled as Lavinia's wrinkled hand brushed Lief's face. What hung from her wrist was a golden bracelet, embezzled with hundreds of small white diamonds.
Genna's blue eyes quickly turned golden, fixed on the sparkle of the jewelry. Her greedy eyes passed over the small, framed charm with her dead husband's picture inside.
The elderly woman still uttered no words, just sobbed painfully for several minutes before kissing her son's forehead.
It was then that she unclasped the gold bracelet, clasping it to Lief's pulseless wrist. Genna's mind sparked the idea without hesitation.
A smirk grew across her lips almost as venomous as the poison she had slipped in Lief's food.
Playing along, she gave Lavinia her friendliest hug and smiled sympathetically at Lief's brother.
The plan - she knew - would go off without a hitch. She would stay throughout the long, boring duration of the viewing, tell the funeral home employees that she needed more time, and make them pity her enough to leave her alone.
And that she did. The man and woman - she was sure to be husband and wife by their closeness - generously allowed her to have some time. Alone, she stared down the empty aisle to Lief's casket.
Her red leather heels made a muffled clack against the carpet as she swayed ever so slowly towards the jewel. Lief remained still, paler than the diamonds embedded into the gold.
"You were my favorite," Genna said, rubbing the back of Lief's cold hand, "it's a shame your family wasn't richer..."
She carefully unlatched the bracelet from Lief's hand. When it came away, she dangled it in front of her stony, blue eyes. "Money is everything, love." She latched the gold onto her tanned wrist.
The middle-aged employees entered the parlor hesitantly. The wife spoke in a gentle tone, "I'm sorry Mrs., I'm afraid we have to clos-" The parlor was empty.
Her husband stuffed his hands into his pockets. Shrugging he said, "I guess she already left."
The wife raised an eyebrow at the now closed casket, but figured Mrs. Dorian couldn't take the sight of the body. She nodded to her husband and they began closing up.
The funeral began early, at ten. Fog still rose from the river through the woods, turning the air an eerie gray. Lavinia sat in the front row of seats beneath the black tent. She held a much less used tissue in her bony fingers as she waited for the precession to begin.
Her other son, Meir, sat beside her and gave a frustrated sigh. "Figures Genna wouldn't be here. She probably already ran off with Lief's money - knowing how she is." Scorn registered in his voice as he spoke.
Lavinia remained quiet, her eyes glued in front of her at the marble casket. Friends and family of Lief crowded around when the priest approached.
He opened his heavy, leather bible and began to preach. After saying his blessings, the casket started to lower into the grave. "You will be missed dearly, my son."
The pulleys lowering the casket suddenly hitched, and as if out of a horror movie it slammed open. Gasps filled the foggy air and hands grasped shocked mouths.
Lying in the plush, silk casket was Genna Dorian - her blonde hair a straggled mess and a terrifying expression sculpted on her beautiful face.
On her wrist was the golden bracelet gifted to Lief by his loving mother. Lavinia spotted the charm dangling from the chain. Genna's photo was now framed inside.
The old woman's wrinkled lips curved into a smile, and her eyes lit up when Lief took the empty seat beside her. The seat that was once reserved for his wife.
