Cutler 04 - Midnight Whispers

entry way. She greeted people and pointed them in our direction. It became exhausting rather quickly, but I couldn't help noticing that the people who embraced and kissed Jefferson and me were truly sorrowful. I'd never fully appreciated how many people Mommy and Daddy had touched.
    Aunt Trisha looked after us as best she could, seeing that Jefferson and I had something to eat and drink. She remained as long as she was able to and then pulled us aside to say good-bye.
    "I have to make this flight to New York," she said. "It breaks my heart to leave you two."
    "I understand, Aunt Trisha," I said, recalling the way Daddy used to tease her. "After all, you're in the theater," I added, mimicking him. She smiled briefly.
    "I'm going to miss them so much." She looked at Jefferson. He shook his head in bewildered fashion, the tears flowing. "Oh, pumpkin," she said, squeezing him tightly to her. "Be a good boy and listen to your aunt and uncle, okay?" Jefferson nodded reluctantly. "I'll call you soon, Christie, and maybe in a few weeks or so, you will be able to visit me in the city and come to the show every night. Would you like that?"
    "Very much, Aunt Trisha."
    She stood up, biting down on her lower lip and nodding. Then she spun around as if chased by ghosts and fled from us. Only minutes later, Gavin came to tell me Granddaddy Longchamp was anxious to go, too.
    "It's tearing him apart to sit here and see all these people in mourning parade by," Gavin explained. "He's even willing to sit in the airport lobby and wait."
    "I understand," I said even though my heart dropped with the news Gavin would be going.
    "He said I could come back soon to visit," Gavin said.
    "Oh Gavin, you were going to work here this summer. We were going to have so much fun together," I reminded him. His eyes told me I didn't have to.
    "Mother wants you two to return to the sofa," Richard said, shoving himself between us. "She says there are still a number of important people to greet."
    "Hey," Gavin said, turning sharply on him, "make like the wind and blow."
    "Huh?"
    "Make like a tree and leave, get it?"
    Richard's mouth twisted in confusion for a moment. Then it all registered.
    "I'm just doing what Mother said to do," he whined defensively.
    "Well, now do what I say to do." Gavin's furious face turned him around quickly and sent him running.
    I laughed; it felt so good to do so.
    "Do me a favor, Jefferson," Gavin said, "tie his socks together every morning, will you?"
    "Yeah," Jefferson said, his eyes brightening. "Don't you dare, Jefferson. Gavin, he doesn't need new ideas."
    "If he bothers you, tell him I'll be back," Gavin told Jefferson.
    "Daddy wants to go, honey," Edwina said softly, stepping up beside us. "He's not doing too well," she added apologetically to me. "Philip's having the limo take us."
    "I'll walk you out," I said.
    "Me too," Jefferson echoed. He wasn't going to leave my side for a second.
    When we stepped out front, we saw Aunt Fern and her boyfriend over by one of the tables laughing and joking with some of the waiters and bellhops. She didn't appear to be bereaved; she could have just as well been a stranger who had wandered onto the grounds. Edwina went over to her to tell her they were leaving, but she wasn't very interested.
    "Sure, good-bye," she said and waved quickly at Gavin and Granddaddy Longchamp.
    "She doesn't act like any child of mine," he muttered, "and certainly no child of Sally Jean's. I guess she must take after some of the bad eggs on my side of the family. We sure had more than our fair share of 'em," he added. I was intrigued and wondered if Gavin knew any of his own dark history.
    "Well now, you take care of yourself, Christie," Granddaddy Longchamp said, turning his big, sad eyes on me. "And look after your brother the way your Momma and Papa would have wanted you to. And you call us if there's anything we can do for you children, understand?"
    "Yes, Granddaddy. Thank you," I said. He took one last look at the house and then bent over to get into the limousine. Edwina followed.
    "I'll call and write as much as I can," Gavin said. "I hate leaving you like this," he added, his eyes soft with sympathy. I nodded, my eyes down. He ran his hand through Jefferson's hair and then, quickly, almost so quickly that I couldn't feel it and no one could have seen it, he leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek. By the time I opened my eyes, he was lunging into the limousine behind his parents.
    Jefferson and I