Traitor.

“Step aside, Tish,” Bob says. He’s Kate’s guard dog and for some reason, he is standing behind me. I didn’t invite him here. He invited himself, I bet. To escort Kate. As if she’s the poor widow, incapable of driving herself to this service when I’m the one who’s the widow here.

When Ashlyn came early to meet me here for a special moment with her dad, I thought she was on Team Tish. Instead, she questioned what happened with her dad’s autopsy. She should be thanking me for handling things so well and so quickly. Who cares how it was expedited? I thought she came early to spend time together, but really it was to question me. The nerve. I’m fuming. I really can’t believe the little brat.

Wrong, stupid Tish, wrong.

It’s my momma’s voice. I hate that voice. I fight the urge to kick something since it wouldn’t be appropriate here. I want to kick Bob, hard, in the shin.

“What did you say?” I ask him and can’t help putting my hands on my hips. He makes me defensive, the jerk. Bob’s probably just a sore loser. I mean, he still has Kate’s business, but he lost the power couple of John and Kate. I know he bragged about that. I do my research. Don’t let my looks fool you. I glare at Bob and lean into the fire. “Can you just leave me alone? You weren’t even invited here. You are not wanted.”

Bob stiffens. Behind him, Ashlyn and Kate are holding hands. I can’t hear what they say, but I need to get over there. Bob says, “This is John’s funeral. Everyone should have been included. Everyone.”

I give him the stink eye. “Shut up, Bob.” I push past him and reinsert myself into the Ashlyn and Kate lovefest. I’m beginning to feel I’m being unkind. But really, I’m just defending myself. Besides, it nauseates me when they are cozy with each other.

“Ashlyn, you did such a nice job. Your dad would have been so happy. I know he’s smiling down from heaven right now, loving his girls.” I smile and pat Ashlyn’s shoulder.

“We should go.” Kate takes a step away from me and then points her finger at me. “Back off, Tish.”

Oh, Kate. So firm, so scary. I step to the side so she has the full view of John’s urn, and our happy family photos.

I turn my attention back to Ashlyn. “Up to you, Ashlyn. If you’d like, we can go shopping or something, to cheer us up.” See, I’m amenable.

Ashlyn looks from me, to her mom, and back at me. “I’d rather not. Ever.”

Interesting. Seems she has turned on me.

“Let’s go.” Kate wraps her arm around Ashlyn, and they walk out the way they came, back down the center aisle without a word of thanks. Bozo Bob follows behind them like a lost puppy.

“Oh, you’re welcome!” I call after them. “Lovely service, Tish. We are so grateful, Tish!”

Bob stops and turns around even though Kate and Ashlyn continue out the door. “You’ll be sorry someday, young lady. This was pure evil, cremating John despite the objections of his family.”

“He was my husband. My choices.” My hands are on my hips. I fight the urge to walk toward him. I like being here, at the front, in the spotlight.

“Did you know he was going to leave you? He’d had enough of you and your games. He told me so himself.”

A bubble of fear explodes in my chest, and I put my hand on my heart to calm down. He couldn’t know that, could he? John didn’t tell Bob anything. He’s bluffing, trying to shake me up. It won’t work. “You’re crazy. John loved me. We were on vacation at our favorite place when he died.”

“Oh, I know where you were. And I suspect John didn’t want to be there. I mean, why would he go to the mountains in the middle of the biggest deal of his life? Doesn’t make sense. Your existence doesn’t make sense.” Bob turns and walks out the door.

I’m shaking all over. It must be from the stress of the day. I feel a hand on my shoulder.

“Mrs. Nelson, we can handle everything from here.” It’s the helpful mortuary staff. Everybody is so pasty in this industry, doughy white like they never see the sun. It’s creepy.

I smile. “Thank you, Elliott. I’m so exhausted. So sad.”

“Would you like to accompany the cremains to the burial site?” he asks.

Just then, the door opens and Kate steps into the mausoleum. Maybe she forgot her purse or something. She is getting old, senile, and menopausal at the very least.

“I want you to know that you are not welcome in this town. Not near my business, my family, or me. Not ever again. Do you understand me? I am not playing around, Tish.” She’s pointing her finger at me again.

I’m tired of her drama. And she’s kinda scary at the moment. But I’m not worried. I’m one step ahead of her. She really should just stop playing the game. It’s over. He’s not coming back to her, or to me.

“Let it go, would you? John’s gone. I’m following his wishes. His new wishes. Cremation and burial in the meadow. I’m sorry he didn’t tell you. That space next to yours in here, it’s already been resold. Right, Elliott?”

“Yes, Mrs. Nelson. That’s correct,” Elliott manages to say.

“You are unbelievable.” Kate stares down at me. I see the fury in her eyes, her face glistens with sweat. “You have ruined everything.”

“Mom.” Ashlyn comes through the door and to the rescue. “It’s time to go. Come on.”

“Of course. I’m coming,” Kate says, practically stomping out the door. Such a toddler.

I step from behind Elliott once Kate is gone. This whole time Ashlyn watches me, not her mom. I smile and mouth the word thanks.

But Ashlyn shakes her head and turns away.

Fine. Ungrateful brat. I’m finished with you, too. You’re the one who should stay away from me.

CHAPTER 31

KATE

I finish washing my face and walk into my bedroom, dropping onto my bed. As much as I’d love to just sleep for days, I can’t. I have a company to reassure. And I have a daughter to set straight. Ashlyn and I haven’t seen each other since the debacle at the cemetery.

I’ve decided we will never speak to Tish again. That will be our rule. Our pact. She doesn’t owe that woman anything. Neither do I. I stand up and head down the hall.

Ashlyn isn’t in her bedroom. The door is open and the room is dark as I walk by. I find my daughter downstairs in the kitchen, drinking a glass of wine. She’s become quite comfortable in her skin this summer. Confident in her young adulthood, in her place in the world even though she’s still a college student. I never would have sat in my parents’ kitchen sipping a glass of wine, not without being offered one first. We were a family of rule followers, we always did the right thing. I really cannot think of a time I didn’t follow the rules, and it never occurred to me to rebel. Not until my husband left me for a woman half my age.

“There you are,” I say.

“Here I am,” Ashlyn says. Her fingers drum the kitchen counter.

I pull out a barstool and sit, resisting the urge to pour myself a glass. “Listen, I want to talk to you about Tish, about what happens from here forward. We can just ignore her. She has no relationship with us anymore.”

Ashlyn smiles. “You’ve never had a relationship with her, so that’s a pretty easy choice for you to make. She was my friend. At least, I thought she was. Now I know it was just an act. I was proud of you today, Mom. For sticking up for us, for Dad. I can’t believe all you’ve been through because of Tish.”

“It’s been a lot. You know, she’s not your friend. Never was. She’s an opportunist, maybe worse. She used you to make it easier for Dad to leave.”

“I’m starting to see that. She lies about everything.” Ashlyn sighs.

“It’s time to move forward, and with Tish out of our lives, it will be easier. Everything will be,” I assure her.

“I hope you’re right.” She looks so sad, my poor girl. “I still think she did something to Dad. In Telluride.”

I pull my daughter into a bear hug. We’re a team now. “You’re going to have to let it go. Dad is gone. We need to focus on the future. EventCo will be all yours one day. Everything I’ve done, I’ve done for you.”

“Thanks, Mom. I know.” I watch as her face crumbles with a wave of grief. “It just sucks. I miss him so much. And at the same time, I’m angry with him for falling for Tish in the first place.” Tears roll down her cheeks.

I must admit this is something I’ve been dreaming of: Ashlyn holding John accountable for the mess he made in our lives. But there’s no time to gloat, not now when Ashlyn is in such pain.