Part 223 (2/2)

badly.” He was dealing with his own grief, great, stunning waves of it,

and could only wrap an arm around her shoulders.

”I'll be all right,” she told him. Then repeated the words over and

over in her head like a prayer.

She hardly noticed the service-what words were said, what tears were

shed in the warm, moist heat of noontime. In her heart she hoped Luke

would forgive her for caring so little that he was being mourned. She

felt dead herself, emotionally dead.

As people walked away from the quiet gravesite, away from the white and

pink marble stones and lush flowers, she wondered if she would have the

strength to follow through.

”Johnno.” Marianne stopped him, a gentle hand on his arm. Then instead

of condolences, she kissed him. ”I wish he could have taught me to

cook,” she said, and made Johnno smile.

”You were his only complete failure.” He turned to Emma. ”The driver

will take you back to the airport. I need to go over to Luke's

apartment. Like care of a few things.” He ran a finger down her cheek.

”You'll be all right?”

”Yes.”

”I didn't expect to see you here.” Though she hated herself, Marianne

couldn't make her tone friendly.

”I ... wanted to come.”

”Really?” Marianne opened her purse and tossed a balled-up tissue

inside. Her anger with Emma was like that, she thought. Balled up and

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