Memory Documentation

chapter twenty | documenting the greatest gift of all

"So, yeah, it's her memorial meal. But sue me for smiling in her memory. For smiling when even though she's gone, she still happened to bring all of us here together." Again, Kristy gestured to us, to the house. "She...  would have loved this. Everyone together, even if it's without her."

The crowd around us had gone silent. Rayna's cheeks were ablaze, while Kristy's now had tears running down them. She swiped at them angrily.

"That's quite enough."

We turned to see Josie reaching the last step and walking towards us. She placed a hand on each of Kristy and Rayna's shoulders and smiled gently. "Girls. The grieving process is different for everyone. You are right to be sad. You are also right to be happy. You are allowed to feel both, or even none at all. Everyone will mourn Mom in a different way, but don't do it by arguing. Now that's something she wouldn't want."

The two girls murmured in agreement, and Josie nodded approvingly. She looked to us, then to everyone else in the court with us. "It's almost time to eat. Won't you please join me for lunch and a speech?"

Inside the mansion was a long table covered in various foods. There was enough to please the meat lovers, satisfy the seafood fanatics, and cover the bases of a vegetarian. An array of desserts, including cookies next to a printed out copy of Sylvia's chocolate chip cookies, were displayed along one table. While the crowd inside was smaller than at the funeral service, many people still did come. Before we could take our plates and line up for food, Josie called for everyone's attention as she stood on the second floor balcony and overlooked all of us.

"Good evening." Josie's voice echoed and resonated throughout the huge open space. "I know I should have said this earlier when there were more of us at the funeral service, but I just didn't know if I could get through it. I know now that I must say it, even if I do end up crying in just a minute."

I clenched my fists and braced myself for the blow of Josie's words. Almost as if he sensed my strength waver in that moment, a hand found the curve of my waist. Chris's scent reaching my nose was better than any dessert or pastry on the table. I covered my hand with his and squeezed as Josie continued, already dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.

"I know my mother. I know that she carried a heart bigger than what her chest could hold. And I know that if she were to see all the tears we've shed today, that she'd be so upset. She would say not to fuss, and she'd pull that face that became all the more endearing as she turned into this cute old lady." Josie's hand dropped lower and lower as she indicated the way Miss Sylvia almost shrunk in size, and a chuckle rippled through the crowd. "In fact," she continued,  "Mom said to me that she doesn't want people to think of her and be sad. Seems impossible to do right now or even ever, but that's what she said. She said she wants us to smile in her memory and to laugh at the memories she made with you all."

Josie placed a hand to her heart. "And you know, today I've been watching you all connect and reconnect with one another and oh, Lord. I know my mom is just beaming down to see you all together."

Emery nudged her shoulder into mine, and the four of us exchanged a smile.

"Mom was dying of organ failure. and while she was in the hospital and we had to start thinking and...  preparing for if things turned, she looked at me and said, 'Get a pen.' She asked me to do two things. One was to invite as many of 'her children' and their parents. The second was to read you this note."

Josie took out a piece of paper and the room held their breath as she began reading with a shaky voice, "If my dearest Josie is reading this, then I'm here, but no longer here. I'm here only in the hope that you keep me alive and well within your hearts and within the memories we made together. While your heart might ache and your eyes may well with tears, please don't forget to remember me with a smile as well. I am honored to have met you. I am honored to have served you. My memories with you are more precious than the finest things in life, and I will carry them up with me to whatever awaits me on the other side."