I Met a Vampire Down in Santa Carla

Chapter Sixteen

I look in the mirror dreading the day ahead. I decided to wear a dress Steve would've hated out of pure spite. It is black and goes to my knees with a sweetheart neckline and off-the-shoulder long sleeves. I have winged eyeliner with black lipstick as well as a smokey eye. I put on high heels. I meet Mom downstairs and she was looking hot as well. It was as if she was Princess Diana wearing the revenge Dress. Her black dress is low cut with short sleeves. The dress is form-fitting and goes to her ankles. She is wearing sunglasses and a wide-brimmed summer hat to match. "You ready?" I smile and she groans. 

"As I possibly could be. God I do not want to see his family I wish we could do the viewing and funeral on the same day. I mean why do we need a view anyway it's a closed casket." She grabs her bag and we head out. We are the first to arrive to meet the director. 

"You must be Mrs. Jones I am terribly sorry for your loss." 

"Thank you. This means a lot to both me and my daughter." 

"It is my pleasure Steve was a good man" He nods and lets us in leading us to the casket. I look at it feeling no emotion. It was fifteen minutes before the viewing actually started. The Director gives us time to ourselves. 

"So how long do you think this is going to take?" Mom ponders. 

"Knowing the dramatics of his family probably all day. Just remember to play nice okay?" I remind. She nods and we hear crying. I turn to see his mother. I felt guilt eat me up. He might have been a monster that we hated but that didn't mean there aren't going to be people that will miss him and genuinely mourn his loss which is what I had to remind myself. She comes over and is taken aback by our appearance but puts face up in light of the mood. 

"Oh Linda I can't believe it." She sobs. "To think just a month ago he was alive and well now." she hugs my mom who hugs her back. No matter how Mom might feel about her mental state and lack of sadness for him she was sad for her. My mom is an empath at heart and as a mother, she probably couldn't imagine if it was me in the casket instead of him. She could sympathize which is why it is easy for her to shed the few tears she had. "Oh Rory," She turns to me. "I didn't think you'd come," She admits. "I take it you lent your mom the dress." She picks and I force a smile. 

"Hello to you Janet" She looks me up and down and shakes her head she peaks behind to see the closed casket. 

"Why is it closed?" She looked heartbroken. "Why can't I see him?"

"The way he was found was disturbing trust me you wouldn't want to see him that way." Mom puts her hand on the now sobbing woman's shoulder leading her to sit and to comfort her. I greet the next slum of guests with the same fake sorrow and smiles. The same I'm sorry and I wish it were different. I hear a big busting sob from the showing area and I rush to see what the commotion is. There is a woman about my age maybe a bit older lying across the casket sobbing. I didn't recognize her nor did mom. I go over to Janet confused. 

"Who is that?" I ask she looks at me puzzled shaking her head. I go over and place my hand on her shoulder. "Miss?" She stands up straight turning to me and brushing me off. 

"It's not fair!" She yells. My mom comes over eyes widening in pure shock. "You," The woman points. "He was going to leave you know. He was going to marry me!" The silence that filled the room was loud. 

"I'm sorry who are you?" Mom asks baffled with a shocked smile on her face. 

"Katie Wilburg." She stands with pride. "We have been together a year and you had no idea. He told me about you. How you would hound him about bills and money. How you would deny the basic duties of a wife. He was going to leave you for me but he. He is" the woman breaks down in sobs. I turn from everyone biting my cheek trying not to laugh. I glanced at my mom and it was over we both had the same look. Mom loses it laughing. I cover my face trying to keep what little composer I had.