When Rain Falls by Tyora M. Moody Page A

man watching her. He stood on the outskirts of the cemetery, near the cars. Another wind gust caused the tent’s edges to flap. Candace observed the darkening sky. She looked back where the strange man stood. No sign of him.
    This was too much for her. Willing herself to rise from the folding chair, she noted that the stiffness in her legs did not match her thirty-nine years. She walked over to the beautiful mahogany casket. Pamela’s parents had chosen to keep the casket closed during the funeral service. It was probably a good idea, but Candace felt unsure her friend was in there. Denial still wanted to raise its ugly head. Barely a whisper, she moved her lips. “Girl, I will see you later.” She touched the casket, feeling its smoothness under her small hand. Candace gulped down a sob that begged to escape. Behind her, someone lightly touched her shoulders.
    She peered over her shoulder. Relief set in as she saw Daniel. Any traces of tears from moments before were gone and replaced with urgent concern. Only fourteen, he’d become the man of the house with an astonishing maturity beyond his years. Candace disliked the forced grown-up role, but was grateful for the lack of rebellion she expected at his age. She needed Daniel to be stable now more than ever.
    Bending slightly, Daniel whispered in her ear, “You okay, Mom?”
    With a weak smile, she nodded her head as her son put his arm around her shoulder. To her dismay, puberty had arrived almost overnight. She couldn’t believe her baby boy now stood a few inches taller than her. Of course, it was bound to happen. Both her children had inherited Frank’s height.
    Rachel stood patiently a few feet away. Not saying a word, Candace searched her daughter’s eyes, understanding her grief matched her own. Both of her children loved Pamela. Not having children of her own, Pamela had adored and spoiled both of the Johnson children, and especially her goddaughter. She was the closest thing to an aunt they had known, with Candace being an only child and Frank having only one brother, who enjoyed bachelorhood too much.
    Candace looked one last time over her shoulder. Judge Coleman and his wife stood at the graveside. The judge appeared to be holding Desiree up. The woman’s peachy complexion appeared pasty. Candace was grateful the Colemans had insisted that she and the children ride in a limousine.
    Near the coffin, a tall, bony man cranked up the crane to lower Pamela into her final resting place, while a shorter, pudgy man stood on the other side. She had a sense of familiarity with the pudgier man. Two years ago she’d stood at another graveside. It seemed the last time she saw him, he wore the same shirt. The faded Johnson C. Smith University sweatshirt was wrapped snuggly around his protruding gut. His deep-set eyes nonchalantly reflected years of placing caskets in their final resting place. The man and his partner worked swiftly as the rain started to fall, increasing in intensity with each second.
    â€œMom, let’s go. We’re going to get drenched.” Rachel held an umbrella above their heads.
    Candace huddled under the umbrella. The rain pounded the umbrella, splashing off headstones as they sprinted across the muddy cemetery.
    â€œNana!”
    A familiar voice from the past ripped through Candace as they reached the open limousine door. She turned to watch a woman approach. Candace swallowed hard, thinking this was a cruel joke, as an image of her mother, older and bustier, drew closer.
    Panic spread through her body, until she realized the face was not her mother’s, but belonged to one who held a close resemblance, Aunt Maggie. Why was she here after all these years?
    Candace held on to the car door, not sure what to do.
    Aunt Maggie stopped, her crow’s-feet prominent and gray hair peeking out from under the large brimmed hat.
    Her aunt spoke softly. “Nana, I’m sorry.”
    She couldn’t