Chapter 2
The crowd of people that had gathered at the Colliers' home was starting to dissipate. Their picture perfect suburban home didn't seem so perfect at the moment. The quaint little craftsman on the cul-de-sac was packed wall to wall. Kate was ready for them to all leave. She was ready to go back to her apartment in the city alone and compartmentalize this day. As much as she wanted to be around her friends, she wasn't sure how much more she could take.
The entire afternoon she'd had to watch Greyson and the children greet and thank people for paying their respects. People she'd never met before. People who came from all over to show their love for the family. It was heartwarming, but a lot to handle. Kate could tell they were all overwhelmed.
When Willa snuck the kids away to the backyard, and Vanessa had urged Greyson to go upstairs away from the crowd to take a moment for himself, Kate had wanted to do the same, but there were still things to be done.
“Should we ask them to go?” Kate whispered to Greyson's mother, Adeline Collier, in the kitchen as they watched the remaining guests in the living room. “Is that polite?”
“I don't think we have to be overly polite today,” she said back to her with a smile. “They've all paid their respects and everyone is exhausted.” Greyson's mother and father had come to town as soon as the nurses told them that there wasn't much time left. Kate could see in her eyes how taxing this had been on her. Helping her son grieve the loss of his wife and comforting her grandchildren had to be difficult.
“I'm glad you're here,” Kate told the petite gray-haired woman. “I know Hope would be thankful as well seeing as how she didn't have much family.” Hope's parents were gone. Her mother had suffered the same fate as her daughter, and her dad had passed when she was in high school.
The only living relative that Hope did have—her brother—was currently standing stoically in the corner of the living room in his dress blues. He may have resembled his sister, but the similarities stopped there.
Vaughn Mitchell was not a bright, outgoing, ball of sunshine like his sister had been. Especially not today. Kate had tried to talk to him a little. He'd answered in short sentences like he couldn't wait to get back to his Marine post. As far as Kate knew, Vaughn was a making a career in the military and he hadn't spoken to his sister too often. Kate wondered if regret was the reason he seemed so distant. Maybe he wished he’d talked to Hope more. “Well, she has a brother,” she said, glancing over at Vaughn once more. It didn't appear that they would have anyone from the Mitchell side of family. “But I'm not sure how long he'll be sticking around. I'm sure it was reassuring to know that you and your husband would be here for them,” Hope said to Greyson's mother.
Kate wasn't sure why she felt like Hope's from-the-grave spokesperson, but seeing the comfort on Mrs. Collier's face had helped ease a little bit of her suffering. Maybe it was selfish, but Vanessa had said “there is no right way to grieve” and this was Kate's way. She reasoned to herself that it was what Hope wanted. She'd put her in charge of her will after all.
Hope's last will and testament was sealed in an envelope in Kate's briefcase at her apartment. Hope had made her promise not to open it until a month after her funeral. It had taken every ounce of self-control not to open it and see what her friend had written. She'd honored her wishes though.
“I'll see about clearing everyone out,” Mrs. Collier said, giving Kate's hand a squeeze. “I'm so grateful to you and the girls,” she said. “Hope was lucky to have such great friends.”
Kate smiled and nodded, unable to form a sentence at that moment that could truly reflect how lucky she was to have had Hope in her life. When she was gone, Kate turned her attention back to the abundance of food that was spread out in the kitchen. Casseroles as far as the eye could see and not enough Tupperware to even begin to hold it all. She pulled open a cabinet door and sighed where she found nothing but mixing bowls and Disney character themed cups.
Hope had insisted that she redo the kitchen after she found out she was sick. Scouring the internet for the latest cabinet and color trends helped keep her mind off of what her body was going through. Now, the crisp white cabinets and large center island with granite stone only reminded Kate, and everyone else, of a space that Hope never even got to enjoy cooking in.
“Here,” Vanessa said, getting a box out of the pantry and sitting it on the island. She began pulling plastic containers with lids and Saran Wrap from the box.
“Did she seriously make a kit for packing up the funeral food?”
“You know it,” Vanessa said with a smile. “She even included a list of what can and can't be frozen.”
“Unbelievable.”
“You know how much she liked to make lists,” Vanessa reminded as she pulled her long, dark hair into a loose ponytail and secured it with the hair-tie she had on her wrist. “Are you really surprised?”
“No.” Kate laughed as she peered over the list. “I wouldn't be surprised by much at this point.” Hope was always a list maker. Down to the silliest of things. “Do you know she had a list of songs that she swore were guaranteed to increase calorie burn during a workout?” Kate asked, the nostalgia hitting her hard as she thought about all of the good times they'd had together.
“What about her list of flowers to plant that increased backyard joy?” Vanessa laughed.
“What's so funny?” Willa walked into the kitchen.
“Hope's lists,” Kate told her.
“My favorite is seasonal nail polish colors,” she said. “I still won't wear I'm Not Really a Waitress in the summer and it's my favorite shade.”
“You can't,” Vanessa said. “That is strictly a Fall/Winter transition color.” The three of them giggled as they packaged up the food.
“What about foods that pair well with Netflix shows?” Kate asked. “Eggos with Stranger Things.”
“And, the only food you can eat with Orange is the New Black is tacos,” Vanessa reminded. “For obvious reasons.”
“What reasons?” Willa asked with a stumped look, her fingers twirling a piece of her long blond hair.
“Seriously?” Kate gave her friend a skeptical look, when Willa shrugged she couldn't help but laugh. “Because lesbians,” she finally helped her out.
“Ohhh... tacos,” Willa said with a nod. “I get it now.”
“Don't feel bad Will,” Greyson's voice startled them. “It took me a minute to get it too.” Here they were laughing it up during this emotional time. Kate felt like an ass. Willa and Vanessa went back to packing food up with their heads down. The silence headlined the tension in the room.
“Sorry,” she said. “Were we being too loud?”
“Don't apologize,” he said, taking a seat on one the barstools at the island. “I needed a good laugh. Can we please just all be normal for a minute?” he asked, catching all three of them off guard. “You all knew her better than anyone. You know that she wouldn't want us all tip-toeing around each other. We've all been friends for years. Can we just have an ounce of normalcy in this completely tragic day? You know, off-colored jokes and sarcasm, please?”
It was true. They were all close. They'd been through so much together. Their twenties, most importantly. Those years of figuring out who they all were and what they wanted out of life. Dating, marriage, jobs, babies, and now death. All of them were fresh over the thirties threshold now.
“Of course,” Vanessa said, placing a hand on Greyson's shoulder. Hope had been the one to bring Willa and Kate into the fold. Willa was Hope's childhood friend and Kate had been her college roommate, but Vanessa... Vanessa had come with Greyson. The two of them had been friends since high school, but as soon as she'd met the three women she'd become more theirs than his. That's not to say that Greyson hadn't had his fair share of the women in his life. The poor guy had practically signed up for sister wives when he'd married Hope. For years now he'd had four women telling him what was and wasn't acceptable. He'd taken it like a champ. Unknowingly becoming the man that each of the three women he wasn't actually married to used as the control for each of their own relationships. He was a great husband and father, it was easy to want a guy like him.
Kate took a moment to really take a good look at Greyson. At how much he'd aged over the past few months. He didn't look much older than his thirty-three years, just different. A few gray hairs had started to pepper his short dark blond head. The fine creases around his blue eyes had deepened a bit. The most telling was that the glimmer he'd always had in his eyes had started to fade. He just looked... tired.
As the four of them stood and sat around the kitchen island they continued discussing their favorite Hope list. Greyson's parents had turned in after getting the kids to bed and it was almost nine o'clock before any of them even realized it.
“How long are you parents staying?” Vanessa asked.
“A week or so,” he said. “Longer if I let them.” He shook his head. “I, mean, I love my parents but it's probably better for me and the kids to get into what our new routine is going to be, right?”
“Maybe,” Kate said. “But it's nice that you have the help.”
“It is,” he agreed. “I'm not sure this house is big enough though.” He laughed.
“Did Vaughn run off already?” Willa asked.
“Yeah,” Greyson answered. “He only had leave for three days.”
“What's his deal?” Kate asked. “Is he always so quiet?”
“He didn't used to be,” Willa told her. “When we were kids he was always talking. Always following Hope and me around like a lost little puppy. But then his mom died and... well... I'm sure today brought up a lot of old feelings on top of losing his sister.” A wistful stare washed over Willa as she thought about how different things used to be. She was the only one in the group that knew Hope as a child. Kate wished she would have met Hope sooner than college. A few more years would have been nice to share.
“He said he'd like to visit more,” Greyson told them. “When his deployment is over.”
“That would be nice for the kids,” Vanessa said. Her phone chimed from the counter top. “I should go,” she said after looking down at her message.
Willa and Kate gave each other the look. The one that spoke volumes.
“Is that Chris?” Kate asked. “Where is he anyway? He didn't stay at the service very long.” Chris was Vanessa’s husband. On paper, the Monroe’s were the perfect couple. Him a successful dentist, her his doting wife. But to those who knew them, it didn't make sense. Kate recalled seeing him come into the church with Vanessa that morning, but somewhere along the way he'd disappeared. As per usual.
“He has to be at work early in the morning,” Vanessa said, defending the jerk once again.
Kate and Willa both bit their tongues while Vanessa grabbed her purse. “Let me know if you need anything,” she said, giving Greyson a hug before heading out the door.
“I hate that guy,” Willa said as soon as Vanessa was out of earshot. “He calls and she goes running. I don't fucking get it.”
“You're not the only one,” Greyson said.
There had always been questions asked behind Vanessa's back. Had been for years. Ever since she'd turned up and announced that Chris was her boyfriend, then fiancé, now husband.
Ugh. Kate had had a bad feeling about him from the jump, but she kept giving him chances to fit into their circle because Vanessa loved him and that's what friends did. Unfortunately, Chris had done little to win her—or anyone else—over. It was the same intuition she had about clients that were up to know good, and nine times out of ten she was spot on.
He was so much different than any of them had ever imagined for Vanessa, and far beyond the whole opposites attract thing.
“I just don't understand what she sees in him. He's obnoxious and rude, and clearly far too demanding to tolerate,” Kate said.
“She can do so much better,” Willa added. They all took a moment to blame themselves. They hadn't said anything when Vanessa started dating him, or when she said they were getting married, what could they possibly say now that would make the situation any better? It was something that had bothered all of them since he'd come in the picture, and the guilt that Kate was feeling was clearly shared between the room.
“I wish we would have said something the moment his weaselly-ass showed up,” Willa said.
“He makes her happy,” Greyson said, channeling his late wife. Hope had always said “as long as he makes her happy.” From what they could see they thought Vanessa was, so none of them ever intervened, despite the fact that they hated the guy. Vanessa had always been the one with a cheery disposition and even with Chris in the picture it had never faded.
Before they spent the entire night analyzing Vanessa's relationship, Kate suggested that they all get a good night's rest. The next few days were going to be hard for all of them. Adjusting to life without Hope. Learning to get by without her words of wisdom and countless lists. Kate had a gnawing feeling in her stomach that it was going to be much more difficult than she imagined, like the funeral had been.