The Kane Cross (Cross 1)

26 - Great man

Baxter slipped into the back of the church. A sizable crowd had gathered for the passing of a man Baxter had never met. Grant McManus died unexpectedly from a heart attack and the news shocked Baxter on two levels. The first was for Jimmy who had a close relationship with his uncle. The stories Jimmy shared made Baxter long for a person in his life who was proud of him for who he was and not what he accomplished. Second, Grant's death was a harsh reminder that his own father's heart attack could have resulted in a similar tragedy for the Kane family.

Over the heads of the crowd of mourners, Baxter could see Jimmy seated next to his mother. Mr. Sinclair sat next to the widow in her wheelchair. Jimmy's aunt was another person he had heard wonderful things about but hadn't met. About midway through the crowd, he saw the back of a blond head he recognized. Trying not to draw attention he made his way down the middle aisle and sat down next to Ivy.

Her eyes were glossy when she turned to him, but forced a hint of a smile. The minister continued his talk about the life they were celebrating. As Baxter listened, he selfishly wondered what his family would say about him after his life. He slipped his fingers through Ivy's icy ones, even though the building was warm.

He hadn't seen her since their date on the boat. It certainly wasn't by choice but they were both busy. With the union settled, Baxter had been catching up on other priorities, including some required travel. Meanwhile Ivy's priority was finishing law school. Baxter wouldn't mind sitting with her on Saturday night while she studied, but not at his employee's home. He had been considering a weekend in Aspen.

He squeezed her fingers as Jimmy stood and approached the lectern. Some might have seen a relentless entrepreneur with his firmly set jaw, but Baxter saw a friend hiding his pain.

Jimmy cleared his throat as every eye in the silent room looked at him. As he spoke about his uncle, Baxter envied him, not for his sorrow, but his memories. His voice remained strong. "... all the memories and lessons I learned from my uncle helped me become the man I am." He chuckled, but the audience didn't join in. "Some of you might not think that's much of a compliment, but outside the boardroom, I learned from Uncle Grant that family comes first..."

Baxter's family came first. He would drop anything to help his brother and sisters. Regardless of his parents' private relationship, they never neglected their children, although they definitely spoiled them. Kasper didn't search for attention because of a lack of it. Doyle's drug use stemmed from entitlement and boredom. When she focused on her photography, she stayed clean.

Ivy reached up and pressed a tissue against her eyes. Baxter squeezed her hand in comfort. It might be the first time her presence didn't cause him discomfort. She leaned into him, and comforted him, as they listened to other emotional speeches including one from Jimmy's cousin. Growing up, Shaun was Jimmy's other friend, but Baxter had never met her. He hadn't expected a beautiful redhead. Jimmy was worried about her because she had married beneath her. Why did a spouse's background have to be such an issue? If she loved him and was happy, then let her live her life.

An hour later, Baxter stood in a sprawling home in the middle of nowhere listening to a guy in a poorly tailored suit try to get him to invest in some hairbrained scheme that he couldn't follow. It was a funeral, and the man was doing business. Maybe Baxter was in a sour mood because Ivy stood at Jimmy's side. He wasn't touching her, although she had her hand on his arm.

"Don't turn your lasers on."

He turned to a short woman. "Pardon?"

"I know you are friends. I've heard about you from our Jimmy for years, but the way you are looking at him. Hmph. She's one beautiful girl. Looks sweet like our Shaun."