Murder at a Funeral

Three Hours Earlier

Adeline was trying to remain calm, but it was proving more difficult than it seemed. There were so many people coming in through the doors, and all she wanted was some peace and quiet.

Old relatives that she hadn't seen in years came over to greet her, kisses on both cheeks. Old friends of her mother's came by and tried to delve into stories about Olenna from her younger years. Adeline continued the same routine since she first arrived at the funeral only hours earlier: smile, give a slight hug or kiss on the cheek, and move along to the next guest. This all had to be very rudimentary and functional. Everything had to go smoothly for this to work, which she truly believed in her heart that it would.

Her eyes lifted when she saw her father walk into the church. It had been at least two months since she saw him last, but of course, he didn't look any different. The smile that was normally plastered on his face, gone, replaced by a sorrow look of shock and mourning. His eyes lit up slightly as he noticed his daughter and made his way over.

"Dad, you made it," Adeline smiled as her father approached and embraced her.
"Of course, angel. You think I would miss this?"
"I just didn't know if you were able to make it with work and everything,"
"Are you kidding? This," he paused. "Your mother's funeral. This is something more important than work. I hope you know that," he paused, staring at his daughter. "Your mother and I may not have gotten along over the years, but I always had the utmost respect for her. Regardless of the fact that our marriage ended over twenty years ago."
Adeline nodded. "How's Caroline?"
"Caroline's good. She couldn't make it today because she's out in Chicago for business. But she sends her regards."
"I'm sure she would be here if she could."
It was quiet for a moment. "Is uh, what's his name here?" Richard asked, as if he didn't remember the man's name that his wife left him for.
"Ivan? Yes, he came in a couple of minutes ago with Arielle and Charles."
Richard surveyed the room. "Where's your sister?"
"She went to bring out more water for the guests. It's closed-casket, by the way."
Richard looked up, "Oh," he said, almost seeming shocked, or disappointed. Adeline couldn't tell. "Your mother wouldn't want people looking at her anyways."
"That's why we did it. I'm guessing you already spoke with Gabe?"
"Yeah, I met him out front. He seems to be holding up pretty well. But tell me, Ad, between the two of us – how is he?"
Adeline swallowed. "He's good. I mean, about as good as one can be after their mother dies."
"And you, how are you doing?"
"I'm fine, dad."
"You sure? I can't imagine how hard this has been on the three of you."
"Well, I did all of this, didn't I?" she gestured to the room around them.
"You're right," he smiled slightly. "You really are your mother's daughter."

Richard headed further into the church and immediately began speaking with old friends and family members. Olenna's family couldn't hate Richard; it was Olenna who left him, after all. But he had finally found happiness again with Caroline. They weren't married, but had been together for eight years. She didn't come from money, but had made a name for herself. Successful all on her own. She was humble and kind, exactly what Richard needed after Olenna left.

Adeline remembered back to the days that followed after her mother announced that she would be running off with Ivan Prescott. Adeline was only ten-years-old when her mother left, too young to quite understand the extent of the situation, but old enough to know that something was definitely wrong, and it was probably her own fault. Those were the thoughts that haunted young Adeline the most: the idea that she wasn't good enough. That she somehow caused her mother to leave them.

She would cry herself to sleep every night, wondering if perhaps she had been a better daughter, than maybe her mother would have stayed. But in all honestly, Olenna's departure had less to do with her children and solely to do with herself and her own needs. Ivan was a temporary fix for her. Someone to help her escape her current world, to run off and have fun in this land of pretend. And as soon as Olenna grew bored with Ivan, she was gone, on route to pursing the bachelorette life, yet again.