Page 41 of Whisk Me Away

I walked through the door, closing it behind me when her body collided with mine.

I wrapped my long arms around her petite frame, hoping to provide even an ounce of comfort. She sobbed into my chest as I held her in the middle of her messy kitchen. I wasn’t sure how long we stood like this before Karis seemed to gain a sliver of composure.

"Peach. Why are you at the bakery?" I asked, brushing the loose strands of hair from her face.

Her piercing eyes met mine, and the grief overflowing from her green irises rocked me. I couldn’t imagine what she was going through at this moment.

"I don't know,” she confessed quietly. After a few silent minutes, she sniffled and looked up at me again. "It's the only thing I could think to do."

She took a deep breath before continuing. "This week, she got another scan, and we discovered the treatment wasn't working. They put her on hospice and—“ her words broke as she was overcome with more tears. It took her a few minutes to speak again.

"They put her on hospice, and she passed away a few hours ago. From the minute she went into hospice, I didn't leave her side. Eden and I laid with her until she took her last breath."

The tears flowing down her cheeks were constant. She didn't have a lick of makeup on, and even in her grief, she was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen.

"What can I do?" Praying she had an answer that would take away this helpless feeling.

“This," she said as she buried her head in my chest and tightened her arms around my waist.

If this was what my girl needed right now, I'd happily stand in this kitchen all night. At this point, I'd do anything to take her pain away.

CHAPTER 28

KARIS

Istared at my reflection in the floor-length mirror as I smoothed my hands down the black cotton dress I was wearing. Today was my mom's funeral, and I'm not sure how I was going to make it through. When my dad asked if I would give the eulogy at the service today, I knew I couldn't tell him no. The thought of standing up in front of the whole town to speak brought waves of panic, but I knew if Dad tried to get up there, it would break him even more.

Being the oldest came with its responsibilities, and while I never in a million years imagined this would be one of them, I would step up if it meant sparing Dad and Eden from the pain of having to talk.

When I couldn't sleep last night, I decided to get up and write, hoping that getting everything out on paper would help me process the reality of this tragedy.

A soft knock brought my mind back to the present. "Come in," I called.

Eden popped her head into the room and gave me a sad smile. "Are you ready?" Eden was wearing a black dress similar to mine, with her caramel-colored hair pulled back into a loose ponytail at the nape of her neck. She didn’t have any makeup on, probably thinking it wouldn't last long anyway. It was the same reason my face was makeup-free as well. Eden's cheeks were rosy, and her eyes were misty like she'd already been crying this morning.

Another thing we had in common.

I was going to need my sister to make it through this day. I walked slowly to where she stood in my doorway and looped my arm in hers.

"Yeah, let's go," I whispered.

Every seat in the church was filled, and there was still a plethora of people standing in the back. It wasn’t surprising, but it was a beautiful reminder that Mom was well-loved by this entire town, and Ashwood Falls stepped up when someone was in need.

My dad gave my leg a gentle squeeze before approaching the pulpit.

"Thank you all for being here today. My dear friend Pastor Albert will be leading the service today. I just wanted to thank you all for the outpouring of love you've shown my family during this time. We will be forever grateful." A lone tear slipped down Dad's cheek as he handed the mic to Pastor Albert.

Albert is the associate pastor at our church, and he and his wife Linda have been lifelong friends of my parents. If Dad wasn't going to do the service, it only made sense for Pastor Albert to do it.

"At this time, I would like to invite Karis Thompson up to read the eulogy."

The room was silent except for the occasional sniffle as I approached the stage. I gave Pastor Albert a friendly smile, even though I knew it didn’t reach my eyes.

I settled behind the pulpit and laid out the papers I’d spent the whole night writing on. Taking a deep breath and asking the Lord for strength to make it through, I lifted the microphone to my mouth.

"Today, as we gather to say goodbye to my beloved mother, Barbara, I am overwhelmed by both sorrow and gratitude. Sorrow for the profound loss of a woman who was the very heart and soul of our family. Gratitude for the blessing of having had her as a guiding light in my life,” I took a steadying breath and wiped the stray tears from my cheeks.

"My mother was not just a mother but a beacon of love, faith, and strength. Her constant devotion to God was the cornerstone of our family, and her faith was a source of inspiration for all who knew her. In times of joy and sorrow, she found peace in scripture, reminding us of the power of God's love and grace. Some of my fondest memories with my mother were in the kitchen, where her love for baking brought us together. The aroma of freshly baked cookies or the sight of her meticulously decorating a cake filled our home with warmth and joy. Those moments, spent side by side, were a testament to the love and care she poured into everything she did."