First Night of Summer by Landon Parham

Caroline’s funeral and couldn’t be late. Once more, the struggle between friend and professional nagged. But there was nothing to do except get in the cruiser, go slog out more cop work, and try to find the enigma they were all chasing.

Chapter Ten
    T he time was marked when a black, funeral home Suburban parked out front. Together and strong for the moment, Isaac stepped onto the spacious front porch with Sarah and Josie. Helen and Tom came last. Like one being, there was a unified inhaling and exhaling of breath. The march down the sidewalk was the start of an unfortunate ritual. A life had to be remembered and told good-bye forever.
    Isaac sat in the middle seat with Sarah and Josie on either side of him. He held both their hands. They were going to get through this together. There was no other way of passage. His parents were in the third seat, silent and brokenhearted over more than Caroline. They felt dejected at seeing their son mourn with his family.
    They rode to the mountainside cemetery without a word. It had rained more over the weekend, and the grass was soggy. Across the meadow, headstones, old and new, all grayed by weather, dotted the setting.
    Chairs for the family were neatly lined up in front of Caroline’s child-sized, open casket. The girls were sandwiched in the middle. A halo of protection and strength surrounded them. On the far end, next to Tom, Charlie took a seat. Excluding him, the five of them were the only surviving family.
    Friends, teachers, acquaintances, little girls in dresses, and little boys in suits were spread around in a semicircle to hear the preacher deliver the final words of compassion to a daughter, a sister, a granddaughter, and a friend too short-lived. All was quiet and calm as her final blessings were bestowed.
    Without any instruments, voices young and old offered a song to a precious little girl.
    Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
    That saved a wretch like me
    I once was lost, but now am found
    Was blind, but now I see
    Those sweet words echoed across the cemetery and down the valley. The mountains stood tall, and the breeze rustled in the aspens. Caroline’s spirit could almost be felt as the air spiraled and moved on to places unknown. Only her body remained. Her eyes were closed, and she was wearing her favorite dress. A lacy scarf covered the fatal wound. A ribbon and pendant hung loosely around her neck. If she could have spoken, she would have told them to not be sad. She was in a better place and patiently waiting to see them again.
    “No one can hurt me now.”
    When it was time, Sarah leaned over, kissed her forehead, and let quivering lips linger. She would gladly have died a thousand painful deaths to trade places. Isaac pressed his lips to the same place. He felt sadness and anger but mostly failure. It was his job to protect her, and he had failed. There was no second chance. The stakes were life and death. A do-over did not exist. Tears dripped onto Caroline’s face from the tragic reality. He wanted to pull her from the casket, carry her home, and never let go.
    He felt a small hand squeeze his fingers. Josie was on her tiptoes, trying to get a better look at her sister.
    “Do you want to say something to her?” His eyes spilled tears, but his voice was clear.
    She nodded, and he set a folding chair next to the elevated casket. She wasn’t crying as he lifted her to stand in the seat. The look on her face was peaceful, at ease with the world. She looked down on her twin sister.
    “What do I tell her, Daddy?”
    His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he swallowed the lump. “Well, I guess you can tell her anything you want. You’re sisters.”
    Her hand slipped out and wrapped around Caroline’s. She slid her thumb over the cool skin. “She’s cold.”
    He tried but couldn’t hold back. It was too much. Even in front of Josie, he had no strength left. She had just broken his wall, and the tears came rolling. He shook with sobs, crying the helpless cry