The Road Home

Chapter 26

The funeral home lobby was busy as family members and friends came for the memorial service, many stopping to sign the memory book on their way into the parlor. The many flowers lined the walkways and now arrangements had been placed throughout the vestibule. Ben talked with Grams near the back of the lobby when he saw Lisa enter and walk toward them.

"It's so good to see you." Grams hugged Lisa.

"It's been awhile, hasn't it?" Lisa said then turned to Ben. "Sorry about your grandmother," she offered, however her tone was cool.

"Thank you." He nodded and noticed her standoffishness. He couldn't blame her. Their relationship had been strained from the beginning. They could barely carry on a conversation.

"I have all these pictures for you." Grams opened her large purse and pulled out the envelope.

As Grams and Lisa gabbed about the pictures, Ben saw Harper and Samuel enter the lobby from the parlor. They stopped at a small table with a bowl of candy in the middle. As Samuel rooted through the candy, Harper covered a yawn. Ben thought of their all night phone conversation.

"This is a good picture of you two," Grams said, showing Lisa the picture of her and Ben.

"Uncle Ben!" Samuel ran full-throttle in their direction as Harper followed the wily four-year old.

"Is that Harper Wills?" Lisa asked in a tone of shock and indignation. Grams quickly looked at Ben.

He cleared his throat as he picked Samuel up and briefly looked at Lisa who was staring angrily at him.

"They're just friends, dear," Grams whispered as Harper drew near.

Gram's smile was guarded. She put an arm around Harper's waist then turned to Lisa. "Harper, this is Lisa Crosby."

Lisa nodded unimpressed at Harper then her eyes darted back to Ben.

"Nice to meet you," Harper offered. Did that sound like a question? She hoped it didn't. She glanced at Ben then turned her gaze on Lisa.

He cleared his throat again, this time to get Harper's attention and slightly shook his head. He hoped she wouldn't say anything to Lisa about the way she was scowling at him. He was relieved when she smiled at him as if reading his mind. "Come on, Samuel."

"I don't have to potty anymore." Samuel held tightly to Ben's neck not wanting to be put down.

"Go try," Ben insisted

The boy put his hands on Ben's face and peered seriously into his uncle's eyes. "Can I go home with you?"

Ben took a deep breath and even though he was exhausted nodded. "We'll talk to your mom." He put the ecstatic boy down and passed his hand to Harper.

Lisa watched Harper walk away then stepped closer to Ben. "Are you seeing her?" she asked, furiously.

"We're just friends," he responded, then noticed Emma and Neva talking on the other side of the lobby. "Excuse me."

~

Harper briefly saw Lisa after the funeral service. Since she had been talking to Neva at the time, she tried not to let it bother her when she saw Lisa hug Ben but it did. When Lisa glared at Harper on her way out, it made it obvious she knew they had been spending a lot of time together. She tried to fight the jealousy that welled inside her and decided to try not to think of Lisa any longer. 

"So who was the lady with the glasses and cane?" She asked later as she and Ben drove to the cemetery. She had met so many people at the funeral home and was having trouble keeping them straight.