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I pulled on my gloves, the familiar sound of the latex snapping against my wrists echoing in the quiet basement. The fluorescent lights hummed overhead, casting a sterile glow over the room. Mrs. Cruise and Mrs. Ked lay side by side on the embalming tables, their serene expressions giving no indication of the journey they had taken to reach this point.
I approached Mrs. Cruise first, studying her features with a critical eye. She was an elderly woman, her silver hair neatly coiffed, her hands folded across her chest.
“Alright, Mrs. Cruise,” I said, addressing her as though she were still alive. “Let’s get you ready for your big debut.”
With rusty, but still steady hands, I began the process of embalming, carefully injecting the preserving fluid into her veins. As I worked, I couldn’t help but hum softly to myself, the rhythmic sound of the embalming pump providing a soothing backdrop to my thoughts. Once I got going, everything came back to me.
As much as it annoyed me when Rocco had said it, it kind of was like riding a bicycle.
Mrs. Cruise seemed to almost come to life under my touch, her skin taking on a healthy glow as the embalming fluid worked its magic. I couldn’t help but smile as I worked, imagining her reaction if she could see herself now. “Looking good, Mrs. Cruise,” I said with a chuckle. “You’re going to be the belle of the ball.”
Once Mrs. Cruise was embalmed and preserved to perfection, I moved on to Mrs. Ked. She was a different story altogether; her stern expression and severe bun gave her an air of authority even in death. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for her, imagining the life she must have led.
Hours passed as I worked, the steady rhythm of my hands moving in sync with the beat of my heart. And as I finally stepped back to survey my handiwork, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in what I had accomplished. Mrs. Cruise and Mrs. Ked lay before me, their features serene and peaceful. And the best part was that they looked like the pictures the family had given us.
That was always a plus.
Rocco had delivered the lunch special from Brew’s around one and headed back up the stairs when I shooed him away.
I wasn’t mad at him. I just wanted to be downstairs by myself.
Plus, I didn’t want to admit to him that I wasn’t hating embalming as much as I thought I would. It was pretty peaceful and serene, and I was enjoying it.
“Alright, ladies,” I said, addressing them with a smile. “You’re all set for your big day. Now, let’s get you dressed to impress.”
With gentle hands, I dressed Mrs. Cruise and Mrs. Ked in their finest attire, carefully arranging their hair and makeup to perfection. As I stepped back to admire my handiwork, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction wash over me.
“Looking good, ladies,” I said with a smile. “You’re going to knock ‘em dead.”
Rocco
I had spent a good part of my day talking to the families of the deceased and getting all their wishes in order. Thankfully, none of them wanted weird poses like my uncle did. I didn’t think I would ever get over seeing him like that.
The funeral home was quiet, save for the soft hum of the air conditioning and the occasional creak of the floorboards as I made my way from room to room. It was strange how the place could feel both empty and full at the same time.
As I settled into my office, ready to order dinner for Dorothy, the phone rang on my desk, breaking the silence with its shrill tone. I just stared at it, my heart pounding in my chest, a knot forming in the pit of my stomach. I wasn’t sure if we were over the jinx yet, and I was worried the phone call was another body on the way in.
After a moment of hesitation, I finally answered, my voice shaky. “Brooks Mortuary and Cremation, Rocco speaking.”
Dread settled over me like a heavy blanket.
Dorothy was going to kill me.
Chapter Thirteen
Dorothy
I sank onto my bed, the weight of the day’s emotions crashing over me like a tidal wave. I had just ended my phone call with Imogen, putting on a brave face and assuring her that everything was fine at the funeral home. But the truth was, I was struggling.
Sometimes, this job was too much even for me.
“Everything’s good,” I had told Imogen, the lie slipping easily from my lips. “Rocco and I don’t really see each other much because there isn’t much to do and I’ve just been reading a lot.”
Yeah, if only that had been true.
Rocco saying the Q word had really rained down on us.
The past four days had been a whirlwind of emotions and exhaustion. Today had been Mrs. Cruise’s funeral, and tomorrow would be Mrs. Ked’s. The day before had been the small service for baby Cole.
