Chapter 222

Edie attempted to stand but Tom put his hand on her shoulder. "I'll get it for you. Just breathe. That's all you have to do." He went to the kitchen, and she leaned back. Wiggling deeper into the sofa, she concentrated on breathing and focused on that's all she had to do.

In a few minutes, Tom returned with a steaming cup of coffee, with cream and sugar. She smelled it. "Thank you." She took a small sip. "It's the perfect amount of cream and sugar. How did you know?"

"I watched you do it a number of times, and I guess I remembered."

Tom sat beside her on the couch but didn't say anything.

"Tell me what you're thinking, Tom."

"Do you really want to know?"

"Yes, yes, I do."

"I was thinking you should call Ralph at the funeral home and let him know what's happened. In my experience with these situations, once they know, they take over from there."

"What all has to be done there? I mean, I don't think we have any money to buy a casket or flowers or pay the preacher." Edie's