Chapter 224

A number of friends and neighbors stopped by throughout the remainder of the day and dropped off cakes, cookies, pies, sandwiches, casseroles, and paper products. Edie accepted their generosity with gratitude and invited them to the funeral.

"Are you hungry?" Tom asked Edie, as he rubbed his tired eyes.

"Not really, I really wanted to sleep longer but-"

"Why don't I get out the makings of a sandwich, and we'll snack on whatever it is we want?" Tom asked.

"Sounds good to me."

They snacked around the coffee table in the living room until dusk. Each time Edie glanced through the front door at the encroaching darkness, she had an ache in the pit of her stomach. Then her heart would race, and sweat would trickle down her back. She had a headache and knew she must look a fright.

"What're you thinking about?" Tom cleared the table.

"It's getting dark, and I'll have to sleep here alone. Gramps was always here, you know." Her swollen eyes filled with tears.

Tom sat beside her on