After he’d found out what had happened, Hector had made arrangements to put Jillian on a plane, since she had a job to get back to, and he and Juno had stayed an extra night just to make sure that Joseph was all right. He’d told Juno about his talk with Grinnie, and she’d laughed and then cried with him when he described how Grinnie had pointedly asked him what his intentions were toward her granddaughter.
His intentions. Gazing at her now in the comforting embrace of her friends, he wanted simply to take care of her. Not only because she was grieving but also because he loved her.
Just then a brunette slipped in the door at the rear of the chapel, and after signing the guestbook, she paused at the rear pew, closed her eyes, seeming to catch her breath, and then came down the aisle. Joseph thought he recognized her from visits to the Dancing Pony.
In his peripheral view, he noticed the way Samson watched her, too, his brows bunching in concentration, and then he muttered something under his breath. Joseph was about to ask if he knew her when she spotted Samson over the crowd. Her eyes popped wide, and her jaw dropped, but by then Violet Tyler and Charity Connors had pulled her into their group.
Hank excused himself when Travis and Veronica came in the door. Joseph waved at his friends before turning his attention back to Bunny’s group. Once again, he caught the brunette eyeing Samson through the crowd. She then made eye contact with Joseph and ducked back out of sight.
“You know her?” Joseph asked Samson as his friend tilted his head in an effort to see her again. “I think her name is—”
“Cassandra,” Samson said in a low tone. “Yes. I know her.”
If that was all he wanted to offer, Joseph could wait. Other pressing matters were at hand. Randall and Mona arrived soon after and joined their group. The minister nodded to let him know it was time to start and he headed over to where she stood with her friends and her brother.
“Ladies, it’s time to start.” The group parted as he held out his hand to Bunny. She was dressed primly in a black silky blouse and skirt, with black stockings and heels and her hair brushed back in smooth, vibrant waves. She put her hand in his and squeezed in a way that made his heart thump.
They took a seat in the front row, surrounded by friends. He leaned close enough to breath in the fresh scent of her shampoo. “Doing okay?”
She sniffled and took a deep breath, seeming to steel herself and nodded. “I’m gonna make it, Sir.” It was unnecessary for her to call him “Sir” in that setting, but the smile that followed showed a little bit of her spirit. “You know what Grinnie told me once?”
“No, what?”
“She used to fuss because I stayed focused on working to provide for us, and she used to tell me, ‘Bunny girl, make time for your life, leave room for love, and make room for more than just work because you only get one go-round.’”
Joseph chuckled quietly. “Sounds like Grace Warner.”
Bunny’s grin lit up the room. “Grinnie was good friends with Grace’s mother-in-law, Rose Marie. They grew up together. I might’ve grown up here if Mom and Dad hadn’t moved away.”
“I’m happy you’re here now.”
She squeezed his hand. “Thank you for helping me so much, Sir. You’re the best.”
The service began with the reading of the obituary and the eulogy, which was given by Thorne Grogan, followed by a message delivered by the minister, and then the closing of the casket.
Joseph stayed by her side for all of it, holding her hand and, at times, holding Tristan’s as well. Bunny had leaned upon him, fulfilling a sense of protectiveness in him, and Tristan had evidently sensed her trust in him and looked to him for direction as well. He didn’t mind in the least.
On the way back home from the burial, Bunny said, “When you talk to Hector and Juno, would you please tell them the flowers they sent were beautiful and that we appreciate them?”
“Of course. What would you like to do now?” he asked as he turned into the driveway of her little house, noting there were a number of people standing and sitting on the porch of the house next door.
“Right now I need a nap, but I know there’s going to be a lot to sort through in the house.”
“Probably so.”
Bunny had asked her neighbor, Louisa, who had lived next door to Grinnie for many years, to mind the house during the services. Joseph hadn’t thought it wise, given the criminal appearance of several of Louisa’s family members who lived with her. Bunny had insisted and reassured him that Grinnie would want Louisa there.
They entered the house to find Louisa had indeed been busy, sweeping and mopping the entire house, cleaning the kitchen, and arranging the many foodstuffs that had been delivered to the house during the morning while they’d been gone. Everything was immaculate, and Joseph was perturbed with himself for being so judgmental.