"Jo, would you go find your father, please?" Terri asked, pulling her hand free in an incidental motion as she turned to one of the large bay windows adjacent to the viewing platform. It was probably meant to appear casual... so why did Josie feel even worse?

"Ned said--" Josie began, but broke off abruptly as her mother's eyelids dropped firmly ( Read more... )

[Edit: 17.58 "Cut" was pretty unnecessary, so now it's uncut (and, as usual, unfinished). End edit.]

"What was that all about?" Terri asked listlessly. Her eyes were directed at the casket, but they were unfocused, barely blinking. Josie briefly wondered how her mother had taken any notice of the exchange in the other chamber, as distracted as she ( Read more... )