Murder at a Funeral

One Day Earlier

Arielle Prescott was sitting across the table from her father in a nearby coffee shop. Ivan had been out of town the last few weeks, and after receiving news of Olenna's death, came home straight away. Arielle hadn't seen much of her father lately. She was busy applying to grad-school and working full time as an assistant in a law-firm downtown. It was her life-long dream to become a criminal attorney who prosecuted those unlawfully seeking justice.

Her father had always been a business-oriented man. Ever since Arielle was young, she looked up to her father and aspired to be just like him. She always had big dreams and ambitions for such a small child. She remembered back to the age of eight when she proclaimed she wanted to run for president. While most of the girls in her class wanted to grow up and become doctors or teachers, Arielle had her sights set on running the country – the world, even. It was that hard-work and determination that led Arielle to where she was today. After graduating with a law degree from the University of Massachusetts, she was determined to get into Harvard Law.

After the news of Olenna's death, Arielle was absolutely heartbroken. Since Arielle's mother, Leona, had died from leukemia when Arielle was only two, she grew up never having a mother figure in her life. Charles was six when their mother died, so he remembered more about their mother than Arielle. But from the stories she'd heard, she was certain her mother was a wonderful, kind woman, and it pained her that she never got to know her.

When Olenna came into the Prescott's lives, Arielle was only five. Since Olenna lived with them for six years, Arielle grew accustomed to Olenna being there, and even began calling her mommy. After Olenna left, Arielle was distraught. First, her birth mother died, and then her stepmother left. Arielle couldn't help but feel a sense of abandonment from the women in her life.

However, Olenna made sure to come back and visit Arielle. They'd spend time together in any way they could; shopping, dinners, movies – and Olenna was always there for Arielle when she needed her. She appreciated Olenna's constant visits, despite Olenna asking her to keep their time together a secret. Arielle always assumed it was because Olenna didn't want her children getting upset about the relationship. But in the end, it was Arielle who remained jealous. She envied this other life that Olenna had with Adeline, Briar, and Gabriel. She wondered what Olenna did once she left Arielle time after time and went back to them. She had grown so accustomed to Olenna and came to view her as her mother. After all, blood doesn't make you family – love does.

Another reason Arielle suspected that Olenna wanted to keep their visits a secret was to protect Ivan. He was so in love with Olenna, and when she left, he was heartbroken. Arielle presumed that to prevent Ivan from any more pain, Olenna omitted telling him about the relationship she was keeping with his daughter. It was better for everyone, the less they knew.

Sitting across from her father, Briar noted that he looked composed and well put-together. Her father had always been a handsome man. The type of man who could walk into a room and get the attention of any woman he desired. But he didn't. After Olenna, he only dated one other woman. Prim, her name was. But no one could ever replace Olenna.

Her father put on a good front right then, drinking his tea. She knew he'd be coming apart internally, distraught over his wife's death, but he would never let it show. Yes, they were still legally married even though they hadn't been together in twelve years. That was another thing that often left Arielle puzzled, why the two of them never divorced. Even after Olenna left the Prescott's, she remained legally married to Ivan and never changed her last name from Prescott.

Arielle drank her coffee and thought back to when she got the call six days ago, Saturday evening. She was listed as an emergency contact of Olenna's, so the hospital called her right away. After that, Arielle called her father, who said he'd catch the first flight back from New York City. Arielle spent the first few hours in shock. She couldn't believe that Olenna was actually gone. It had all happened far too fast.