Murder at a Funeral

Four Hours Earlier

The weather was humid and muggy – perfectly suitable for a mid-August day. It was only eleven o'clock, but already Adeline could see cars beginning to pull up, lethargic bodies dressed in black stepping onto the sidewalk. It was happening – it was really happening: her mother's funeral.

Before she left the house that morning, Adeline showered, shaved her legs, and put on the nicest black dress that she owned. A scorching sun and black fabric did not amalgamate nicely, especially when Manchester was this hot. Albeit, she didn't have much of a choice. She couldn't just show up in white.

Adeline decided to go easy on the eye makeup, lightly applying her waterproof mascara, knowing that tears were expected. She'd stood in the mirror, staring at her own reflection, practicing how it would look to furrow her eyebrows, look sympathetic, and begin to whimper into a tissue.

Tanner, the man who had helped Adeline plan Olenna's funeral, was running back and forth from inside the church to the van outside, ensuring everything was set up and in place. The woman from the funeral home was also present, arranging flowers and awaiting to greet guests at the door. Adeline felt how unnecessary the woman's presence was. They didn't need another body to just stand there, looking bored. Adeline and her siblings would be greeting guests at the door. As for the flowers, she was sure Briar could have set something up.

The sound of a violin was playing methodically in the background. The church doors were wide open, inviting visitors to walk through. The church was air-conditioned, thank God, because on a day like today, Adeline was sure she wouldn't be the only one suffering from a heat-stroke. She could picture it now: her own mother complaining about the heat. Olenna was always complaining about something, whether it was the car driving ahead of them on the freeway, the snotty-nosed children that parents didn't keep far enough away from her, or the weather. It was always either too hot or too cold for Olenna.

Adeline shifted uncomfortably from her stance on the church steps. She maneuvered the fabric of her dress, pulling it slightly downwards and adjusting the straps. She had brought a cardigan to cover her shoulders, but given the weather circumstance, covered shoulders were simply not an option.

She brought her hand up to her face to discretely fan herself. She wasn't required to stand out there in the scorching heat, but for some reason, she couldn't seem to find the motivation to go inside just yet. Because that would mean that this was real. That this was really happening. But this was a good thing, wasn't it?

For now, she decided to remain standing outside, waiting for something that she wasn't sure would even come.

Perhaps she thought it would be Aiden. Part of her was hoping that after their conversation the other day, he'd show up. Adeline remembered back to the day she last saw him, aside from their encounter the other day. It was over two years ago, the day she left him standing at the altar.

Aiden Calloway was the closest thing to perfection that Adeline had ever encountered. Yale alumna; stock-broker on Wall Street; a kind, family man with the most perfectly crafted jaw that Adeline ever laid eyes on. But unfortunately, he wasn't Adeline's discovery – he was Olenna's.

When Adeline was young and Cinderella was her favourite Disney princess, she dreamed of growing up and finding a Prince Charming of her own. She'd fantasize about how they'd meet. In a book store, reaching for the same paperback. In a painting class, discretely drawing each other without even knowing. Walking down the street, bumping into one another and never being able to take their eyes off of each other. Unfortunately, none of those scenarios happened for Adeline. Aiden was hand-picked by Olenna; an arranged relationship of sorts. But Adeline didn't protest – she was all for it.