Chapter 52

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Slowly, Christian and Lori ambled over to the long line of funeral-goers saying their final goodbyes to Aunt Betty, Lori gripping Christian’s hand as if she were afraid she’d lose him in the throng of people. Christian’s small fingers brushed the gold bracelet his father had gotten for her on their anniversary.

Christian and Lori waited behind two gossipy old women, whispering between themselves. They were women Christian didn’t know or see come around the house. His mother later told him when they got home that the two women were Aunt Betty’s sisters. A flashy, gaudy duo, his mother had described them, with all their fake pearls and dyed hair and loud mouths.

Christian asked his mother why older women wore younger girl’s clothes. “Maybe they’re afraid of getting old,”she had answered“Young clothes and dyed hair make them feel younger.”