“I wish I could say the same for myself,” Brian said. “The doctor’s attitude irked me, and I’m afraid I kind of provoked her by accusing the ED of purposefully making us wait.”
“Uh-oh, I was afraid of that.”
“I couldn’t help myself,” he confessed.
“Well, at least we know Juliette is okay,” Jeanne offered. “Now I think you should call your mother and let her know so the wake can get underway.”
“Oh, shit!” Brian whispered, gritting his teeth. “I was trying not to think about that. I still don’t know how I feel about the whole wake idea. I’m not sure I can face it or want to subject Juliette to it.”
“I know exactly what you mean. I felt the same reservation going to my husband’s, Riley’s, wake a year ago. But you know what? Ultimately, I was glad I was forced to participate, and it gave me an appreciation for the Irish funeral traditions as a celebration of a life rather than purely a mourning for a loss. On top of that, I actually became closer to my in-laws because of it.”
“So you really changed your mind about your husband’s wake after going?”
“Yes, I did,” Jeanne said. “It definitely helped me deal with the whole situation. I truly was glad I was pressured to attend.”
“All right, I’ll take your word for it, but what about you-know-who?” He nodded down at Juliette, who was holding on to Brian’s hand. “Do you really think I should ask her if she wants to go?”
“As I said, Riley had a young nephew and two young nieces, all of whom came to his wake. Two of them I think were four, same as your daughter. At the time, I was somewhat fearful of the effects on their young psyches, but they weathered it well and seemed to have been appreciative of being included. As I said, my advice is to ask her. Kids that age have some intuitive idea of what death means.”
“Oh, boy,” he muttered. He looked down at Juliette, who had let go of his hand to retrieve Bunny from the sidewalk. As she was wiping off the stuffed rabbit, Brian said, “Juliette, I have a question I need to ask you.”
“You are going to do it here?” Jeanne asked with alarm. “Do you think this is the right place?”
“Why not? Suddenly I have the courage and need to get it out. Do you think asking her here is a mistake?”
“No, I guess not.”
“Juliette, love,” Brian continued while retaking her hand. “Yesterday we lost Mommy. She died and went to heaven, and today Grandma and Grandpa O’Brien are having a celebration of Mommy’s life called a wake. Mommy’s body will be there for people to see for the last time to say goodbye before she is buried.”
“How can Mommy’s body be at Grandma’s if she went to heaven?” Juliette asked, looking up at him.
“Her spirit or soul went to heaven,” Brian explained, exchanging a rapid glance with Jeanne for reassurance. She nodded encouragement. “Her empty body is still here with us. But there is no life. She won’t talk or move.”
“Will she look icky?” Juliette asked, making a face.
“No, she will probably look beautiful just like always,” Brian reassured her, struggling with his own emotions. “You can bring something to leave with Mommy’s body if you would like to keep her company.”
“Can I bring Bunny?”
“Of course you can bring Bunny,” he said, taking a deep breath to keep himself under a semblance of equanimity. He glanced again at Jeanne and could tell she was having the same control issues. “I’m sure that Mommy’s spirit will be very happy if you bring Bunny.”
“I want to go and bring Bunny,” Juliette insisted.
“Okay, perfect. You, Bunny, and I will all go together.” He again looked over at Jeanne, who gave him a thumbs-up.
“I want you to come, too,” Juliette said, looking up at Jeanne.
“Thank you, sweetheart,” Jeanne said. She was touched and exchanged a quick, teary glance with Brian. “But I don’t think that would be appropriate. The wake is for family, especially during the pandemic when the number of visitors will likely be limited. But if you’d like I’ll come and visit you tomorrow, and you can tell me all about it.”
“Okay,” Juliette said agreeably as the Murphys’ Subaru appeared, coming up the driveway onto the hospital grounds.
Chapter 25
September 1
The ride from MMH Inwood to the house took only a few minutes, but it was long enough for Brian to call Aimée and report that Juliette had been given a clean bill of health, providing a green light for Emma’s wake. Aimée had been pleased on both accounts and promised to let Hannah know immediately. She then asked when Brian and Juliette would be arriving, and he said they’d come over within the hour.
Camila turned into the Murphy driveway and stopped alongside the house. After everyone got out, Camila and Juliette headed for the back door, which led directly into the kitchen. Jeanne held up, saying she’d get her bike from where she’d placed it back by the garage and head home. “I hope all goes well at the wake,” she added. “And I hope it has the same effect on you my husband’s had on me.”
“I hope so, too. And I want to thank you sincerely for your help and generosity. You’ve been amazing with Juliette. Really! I can’t thank you enough.”
“It’s been my pleasure,” Jeanne said. “She’s a darling little girl. And dealing with her has reminded me of what I missed about being a school psychologist. It’s so much more rewarding than running a business. So, if you need more help with her, say, after the wake and funeral, I’m certainly available, and you have my number.”
“As I said and I say again, I appreciate your generosity.”
After Jeanne retrieved her bike Brian walked with her back out to the street.
“I’m sorry about the pavement around here,” he said. “Be careful. They ground down the street in preparation to repave it, but when it’s going to get done is anybody’s guess. With all the utilities sticking up, it’s treacherous.”
“I’ll be careful,” Jeanne promised. “I’ll walk the bike, until I think it’s safe.”
“Good idea. Thanks again for everything. Truly.”
“You are welcome,” Jeanne said, waving over her shoulder as she walked her bike down toward Park Terrace West. Brian watched her until she turned the corner.
Using the front door, he entered the house. He found Camila and Juliette upstairs in Juliette’s room, trying to decide which of her many church dresses that Grandma Aimée had bought for her that she wanted to wear. While that was in process, Brian went into his closet, got out the only dark suit he owned, and put it on. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d worn it. He then pushed around his unruly, relatively short hair with a hairbrush. Returning to Juliette’s room, he saw that she had made up her mind about her outfit and was now almost ready. She looked precious in a pink dress with her golden hair braided and tied with a matching ribbon. On her feet were black patent-leather shoes. Whether such clothes were appropriate for a wake, he had no idea, but he didn’t care. If that was what Juliette wanted to wear, it was fine with him. She was holding Bunny tightly, clutched against her chest.
As he was admiring his daughter, he felt his phone vibrate, indicating he’d gotten a text message. Taking it out, he saw it was from Roger Dalton, and opening the message, he read that Roger wanted him to call as soon as possible. Brian couldn’t help but wonder what it might be about, knowing it couldn’t be anything good. But then he thought that perhaps it had something to do with Patrick McCarthy or Megan Doyle and their need to obtain a full printout of the hospital record. But whatever it was, he decided to put it off until after the wake. He was already under enough stress despite everything that Jeanne had said and still had reservations about going, both for himself and Juliette. He also decided at some appropriate time in the future to let it be known that when his own time came, he’d prefer not to have his body go through all such rituals.