August be the end of Summer

Chapter 2: Black Rose

"Rob, she'll show up, trust me." –I stated.

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that." –Rob said in a sarcastic tone.

Just like Diego, Robert didn't really believe SHE would come. According to Rob, coming here would be suicide and only a clinically insane person would try his luck.

Jasmine was seemingly engaging James Russell in small conversations, pretending to be his long lost friend in front of the others and trying to know more about the ADAMS family. When James went to meet someone, Jas took the opportunity to share her precious thoughts. "This dude had no idea that his wife was not only previously married but had twin kids too. Can you believe this, August?"

I shake my head and responded her. "This doesn't come as a surprise to me, what can I say, no woman in her right mind would tell her new living-in-a-town husband that she was previously married to a mafia lord."

"Well, he also states he has no clue about the ADAMS Family and certainly not about Summer Adams." Jas explained through her microphone.

"Do you believe him?" I wanted to know her judgement about that man.

"For now, Yes." Jas sighed before continuing, "And August, the towns' people seemed to love Marllory Russell quite a lot. She was a well respectable woman here who worked for charity her entire life. They're having a memorial day for her tomorrow. It's a bit hard to believe such a generous woman was the mother of the infamous vicious Wicked-twins."

I told Jasmine with a smirk, "Don't worry, Jas. The Wicked-Devil of a brother is already dead and we are going to arrest the Wicked-Witch of a sister soon." Jas turned back and smiled at me.

The attendances were coming forward to visit the deceased in the casket for one last time. The casket surroundings were soon covered with the visitors' flower bouquets.

The church ceremony was heading to its end in about 15 minutes. The priest just gave the final funeral prayers and now the nun was dimly singing at the stage. The casket would be taken out afterwards and everyone would leave for the graveyard service. She will never show up out in the open, it was too damn dangerous, it would be a stupid move, and ADAMS were anything but stupid. Out there, she would know the FBI are watching. There were already two SUV hidden at the graveyard parking lot for back up and security reason. The church was a safer option. Why hadn't she shown up yet?

Damn it. I turned to look at Diego who was standing by the entrance gate of the church. He's getting impatient with every minute passes. "Maybe Diego, you're right." I signed before continuing, "I thought she might have cared since Marllory Russell had tried contacting her last year." I felt so exhausted and tired and disappointed in myself. I was so damn sure that I will catch her here. At least the nun's singing had a calming effect. Her poetic rhythms were quite soothing. I glanced around, everyone was mesmerized by her singing. Some people were crying while singing along with her, some were holding each other's hands. Even the priest seemed to get emotional. Jasmine had moved from the mayor's side and chose to stand beside at the backside watching the audience's reaction too.

I heard Diego responded, "I know you really wanted to catch her and end her mafia kingdom but come on, we all knew this was a long shot. The town's police officers are watching the roads that lead into this town since morning and no one suspicious came in. There were higher chances she wasn't even going to show up. And even if she did come this far, words were everywhere that there were FBI in the town. She's not crazy August, she would know it's a trap, she won't put a step in this town. It's far too dangerous, even for her standard."

I knew Diego was being logical.

I signed before responding, "Can't believe my gut feelings were wrong!" I sat at the nearby bench and rested my head on the back of the chair, closed my eyes and took a long, deep breath.

Meanwhile the nun had stopped singing and the church suddenly seemed to get really quiet. She had started reciting a new poetry this time, slowly moved down the stage by the stairs and went straight to the casket with Mrs. Russell laying in it.

Away

(By James Whitcomb Riley)

I cannot say & I will not say.

That she is dead, she is just away.

With a cheery smile & a wave of hand.

She has wandered into an unknown land;

And left us dreaming how very fair.

Its needs must be, since she lingers there.

And you-oh you, who the wildest yearn;

From the old-time step & the glad return-

Think of her faring on, as dear.

In the love of there, as the love of here.

Think of her still the same way, I say;

She is not dead; she is just away.

The nun was wearing a black tunic covered with scapular and cowl, a white cap with a white wimple and a black veil over her head. Her cheeks, neck and forehead were completed hidden by her wimple and veil. Her eyes were covered with the eyesight glasses. She kept reciting the poetry while she reached the casket. She sat by the side of it, lean down to give a kiss on the deceased's forehead.

She always kept a black rose with her, wherever she went. Others believed she kept it to find a closure, a forgiveness she seeks for her sins from the people she ruined, but god knew that wasn't true.

Black roses were the first thing that made her realized,

Darkness can be beautiful too.

A story about ruin can be beautiful too.

Chaos and disaster can be beautiful too.

Broken things can be beautiful too.

Just like her.

The black rose was her signature; was her mark. Even as a child she loved leaving her mark on everything. For others, giving someone black roses would mean the death of a relationship or idea, but for her, however, it would suggest there birth or the beginning of something new. So she took the flower from her sleeves and place it in the hands of the deceased, as a gesture that she had accepted the dead's forgiveness. She stopped reciting the poetry and stood up straight, gave her mother one last look before facing the audience.