Buried [Completed]

Chapter twelve

Kyle's mother arrived in Twisted Cedars at five o'clock in the afternoon on Friday. Jamie was French-braiding Cory's hair.

She was almost done, weaving the strands the way she remembered her mother once doing for her. Cory held a mirror in both hands, watching the progress with an expression bordering on awe.

"Do you like it?" Cory nodded.
Then suddenly Jamie saw Muriel Quinpool's face in the mirror. Cory spotted her grandmother at the same time.

"Grandma!" She jumped from her chair and ran to the woman, hugging her around the waist.

Muriel looked teary-eyed by the reception. She patted Cory on the back, while her gaze met Jamie's.

"Muriel! What a surprise... hello, how are you?"

She went to give her mother-in-law-to-be a kiss. She hadn't expected her to arrive tonight since Kyle had said she definitely wasn't attending the rehearsal dinner. Muriel clasped her granddaughter's face between her hands.

"How are you, sweetie? Excited about the wedding?"

"I'm going to be the flower girl! I have a long pink dress and shiny shoes and I'm going to the hair dresser tomorrow."

"Then why was Jamie braiding your hair?"

"For the rehearsal dinner," Jamie explained.

"It's tonight? I thought Kyle said Thursday."

Muriel sank onto a kitchen chair, looking concerned. Jamie hadn't seen Kyle's mother since she'd moved to Portland. Muriel had aged noticeably in that time and she had a nervous tic in her eye that was very distracting.

"Now you can come with us, grandma! I'll go tell Chester."

Cory shot out of the room, leaving an uncomfortable quiet in her wake. Jamie sat in the chair opposite Muriel's. Her mother-in-law-to-be was rubbing one wrist in a compulsive manner.

"I can't go. It isn't possible," she murmured.

"The wedding is going to be difficult enough." She lifted her gaze to Jamie.

"Where is Kyle?"

"He's helping Chester get dressed."

"Chester's been dressing himself for years." Jamie grinned.

"His father doesn't want him wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt tonight."

Jamie had taken the day off from work. She'd been too excited to work, anyway. The day had sped by as she worked through a checklist of items, including picking up the kids after school and bringing them home to get ready for the rehearsal dinner.

Cory had been thrilled at the excuse to wear another pretty dress, but Chester wasn't impressed with the shirt and trousers he'd found pressed and waiting on his bed.

"But I have to wear that stupid suit tomorrow. Can't I be comfortable tonight?"

Jamie might have given in to him on this one— only close friends and family were invited and the clambake was being held at the beach— but Kyle was standing firm.

"Are you sure you won't come with us?" she pressed Muriel.

"I know the kids and Kyle would love for you to be there."

"I'll stay at home. Maybe I can make myself useful."

With that, Muriel moved to the sink and began running the hot water. Though the place wasn't yet her responsibility, Jamie felt embarrassed. The kitchen was frankly a disaster— remnants of breakfast and lunch were still cluttered on the counters. Jamie had planned on a quick clean-up once she'd finished with Cory's hair.