Kissing Mr. Bradley

Chapter 36

The stage was set.

Ethan's funeral was a sham. Of course, no one knew this except for Ezra and I.

Our colleagues who came to pay their respects occupied every seat in the church. I spotted Maudie right away at the front row, wiping away her tears as a wave of guilt rushed through me. If not anyone else, I was sure Ethan wouldn't want Maudie to be out of the loop. Then again, trust was hard to come by and it was best to keep Maudie in the dark like everyone else. Still, I couldn't help but to feel like a terrible person for keeping a secret from her.

Ezra placed his hand on the small of my back, leading me to the front row where I had the center view of the cherrywood coffin. It was a closed casket and I knew that it was empty but the sound of Maudie's soft whimpers made it seem all too real, as if Ethan was lying inside.

The pastor, the same one that spoke at Bronwyn's funeral, stepped onto the podium. He began his sermon and I turned my mind off from most of it after he began to cry.

"I never would've thought," he began, wiping his eyes with a white cloth. "I'd be speaking at the funerals of two siblings who I'd known since they were children. Bronwyn and now, Ethan Bradley."

Ezra took my hand in his and I wondered if that was part of the plan, to make this all seem real to everyone around us or if he really meant the affectionate gesture. I questioned every moment and action. I wondered if the pastor knew how phony this entire ordeal was and if Ethan had filled him in on what was going on despite Ezra and my knowing. Then again if the pastor knew, he was a damn good actor because his tears came from the heart. Who else could be in on this?

"Now," the pastor started. "We are joined together by Ezra Bradley and Mrs. Bradley."

It took a second to realize that I was Mrs. Bradley.

As much as I wanted to hide the glistening rock on my finger, it was nearly impossible. It was glued to me and forever associated with Ethan. I could never take it off.

I took Ezra's hand and we went upstage together.

"Saffron," he whispered. "Break a leg."

It was a saying only actors used before the big play. That's exactly what we were. Ezra and I were actors putting on a show for these people to protect Ethan. It was a twisted act that had to be done.

I shed a tear or two, thinking back to the feeling I had when I thought Ethan was dead. The tightness in my throat and the rapid pace of my heart ached something inside of me. I brought it out in front of all the people I knew from Bradley & Sons who patiently waited for me to get myself together long enough to speak. I kept my head down, avoiding all eye contact.

My voice cracked at the first few sentences of my eulogy. I read the paper as if it were real and not a script. I didn't want anyone to suspect something was off. When it was Ezra's turn, he also heightened the emotions with his heartfelt way of storytelling. He talked about his memories with his brother when they were kids. The flow of memories woke something inside of him because he broke down and cried in the arms of the pastor.

"I'm going to miss my brother," he said, pulling himself back together. "It brings me peace of mind knowing that he's resting in a better place."

Ezra wiped the corner of his eye with his finger and took my hand. We stepped off the podium together and stood in front of the casket.

Ezra placed his hand on the surface and closed his eyes.

I kissed the surface of the casket, leaving behind a red lip stain.

We left the church, still in character as the rest of the guests paid their respects to Ethan with flowers and their tears.

Ezra loosened the tie of his suit as soon as we left the church. "We put on a good show," he said. "Let's get the hell out of here."

Ezra was able to separate real from fiction but I was still in the belief that Ethan was gone forever. I believed that if he wasn't standing in front of me, he might as well be dead.

Before leaving the city, Ezra wanted to make one last stop.

He pulled into the gravel of the cemetery and the moment had called for a bit of rainfall. We sat in the car with the radio off, listening to the raindrops hit the roof of the car and our silence.

"I still can't believe it," he said. "Bronwyn is dead and Ethan is in hiding."

He looked down at his hands, trying to find the answer as to why his life took a turn for the worst.

I took Ezra's hand. It was cold and he was shaking. Ezra always played tough and never showed emotion. I wasn't used to seeing him in such a vulnerable position.

I put my hand on the side of his face. His eyes stayed down, avoiding any contact. Then, he pulled away and turned his attention to the cemetery ahead.

He pointed straight ahead as the rain began to clear. "Ethan's gravestone is right there," he said. "Right next to Bronwyn."

I should've known Ethan would have everything all planned out.

"Shall we?" I asked. "Pay our last respects before we leave this all behind us?"

I started to open the car door when he stopped me.

"Wait," he said. "Close the door."

He stared straight ahead and I followed in his direction.

From a distance there were a group of silhouettes coming near. They were on the path to Bronwyn and Ethan's gravestones. They were all wearing black cloaks covering them from head to toe and black shades covering their eyes. It was clear that they didn't want to be seen or recognized. Ezra didn't seem surprised at the group of four.

The cloaked group stood in front of Bronwyn and Ethan's gravestone. They reached inside of their cloaks and pulled out a bouquet of flowers of all kinds. They neatly placed each one next to the gravestones.

"Who are they?" I asked.

As if my voice could be heard from where they were standing, the silhouettes turned in unison, facing the car at both Ezra and I.

Ezra let out a small chuckle. It was the first sign of expression I had seen of him since Ethan's sham funeral. It was a good sign but a strange one.

"Ezra," I called again. "Who are they?"

Ezra had a smirk. The cloaked strangers were still looking back at us. The woman with dark hair past her shoulders raised her hand and shot us a weak wave.

"Saffron," he said. "I'd like to introduce you to the Bradley clan."

"Bradley clan," I repeated. "There's more of you?"

I was in utter disbelief when Ezra replied with a simple, "Yes."

I stumbled over my words and couldn't get a full sentence out.

"I didn't know," I started. "I mean, you never mentioned..."

"Now you know," he said. "You're looking at the next bloodline."

The Bradley clan set down the last of their flowers before turning their attention back on us again.

My body shook at the revelation. I thought I knew everything about the Bradley's but that rang to be false.

"They're so fucking weird," Ezra said, laughing.

The Bradley Clan stared back at us.

With a nod from the woman, it was like we had a mutual understanding that they were next in the bloodline.