The Obituary Society

The Obituary Society

by

Jessica L. Randall

"This book has it all. Mystery, suspense, romance and a touch of paranormal. I was sucked in from page one and couldn't put it down. I highly recommend it!" - Victorine E. Lieske, author of the NYT's best selling eBook Not What She Seems

     Table of Contents

Chapter 1:  Sour Lemonade

Chapter 2:  The Cinnamon Scented Lawyer

Chapter 3:  High Fructose Corn Syrup

Chapter 4:  Aunt Ada's Fridge

Chapter 5:  The Mail Order House

Chapter 6:  Maids of Honor

Chapter 7:  Sold

Chapter 8:  Old Spice

Chapter 9:  Store-Bought

Chapter 10:  Gypsy Blood

Chapter 11:  Rocky Mountain Oysters

Chapter 12:  Better-than-Betty Crocker

Chapter 13:  The Old Hodgers Bluegrass Band

Chapter 14:  Fireworks

Chapter 15:  An Unkindness

Chapter 16:  Goldie's Locks

Chapter 17:  Mantis

Chapter 18:  Outsiders

Chapter 19:  Vintage Snapple

Chapter 20:  The Pact

Chapter 21:  Intruders

Chapter 22:  Jail Biddies

Chapter 23:  Betrayed

Chapter 24:  Deep-Fried Chocolate Milk

Chapter 25:  Heights

Chapter 26:  Finding the Finder

Chapter 27:  Like
him

Chapter 28:  Anything for Love

Chapter 29:  Nightmare

Chapter 30:  Raspberry Rumba

Recipes

Grandma Katie's Delicious Rolls

Ada's Maids of Honor

Great-Grandma Benson's Caramel Pie

If you'd like to give your imagination a boost and find a few more recipes, visit my

Obituary Society Pinterest board.

http://www.pinterest.com/shakalaka/the-obituary-society/

The Obituary Society

Copyright © 2014

Jessica L. Randall

cover photo ©Agnes Kantaruk/Dreamstime.com

All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the author with the exception of brief quotations used in reviews.

To my people.

September  1952

Isaac Moore sat on the porch steps, stuffing the last bit of jam and bread into his mouth.  Most days he walked home with his little sister, but today he was hungry, and he had run ahead.  Ada should have been home by now. 

He stood, brushing the crumbs from his pants, and walked to the road.  He squinted and caught sight of Ada bobbing toward him, a large goose close on her heels.  Mrs. Hendricks must have left her gate unlatched again.

Isaac doubled over laughing as the short, stubby girl swung her arms and lifted her knees as high as she could, trying to outrun the ornery fowl.  She squealed as it nipped at her heels, then pulled an apple core out of her lunch pail and tossed it behind her.  She looked back and frowned, seeing the goose still in pursuit. 

Isaac jogged down the road, keeping his eyes on his sister to see what she would do next.  She tried again, this time pulling out a dried crust of bread and tossing it at the goose's head, but it didn't slow down. 

She turned her head, and her blue eyes lit up at the sight of her brother.  Relief washed over her troubled face.  Isaac ran between Ada and the goose so she could run safely to the house. 

The goose nipped at Isaac's calf with its huge orange bill.  “Ouch!  Cut it out!”  A new bruise formed at every bite.  He scowled at the beast and picked up the pace.  The goose followed him the rest of the way home.  At last he reached the front door.  Ada held it open for him, and he dashed inside, slamming the door triumphantly behind him.

Isaac bent over, pulling up his pant legs up to assess the damage.  Angry purple marks dotted both calves.  He looked up to see Ada watching him with tears in her eyes.  He fuzzed her head and grinned.

Chapter 1

Sour Lemonade

Lila watched them standing alongside the casket, five women in their Sunday best, forming a wall you couldn't drive a Dodge Ram through.  Her aunt Ada stood in the middle, wiping a tear with her hanky, her friends supporting her on either side.  Lila's chest ached as she stared at them.  They were solemn-eyed, but hard-edged with determination, friends who would sit by your side and drink the lemonade with or without the sugar, all the way to the end.  Lila wasn't sure what the determined look meant, but she was certain it wasn't her imagination.  It was as if it was them against the world.  There was a bond there, and Lila bet the story that formed it would be worth digging for.

After the service Ada beckoned to Lila, and as soon as she was within reach, her great-aunt wrapped her arms around her.  Ada's softness and warmth, and the scent that reminded Lila of things both home-grown and home-baked, made Lila feel steadier on her feet.

It had been a relief when Lila got to Auburn and Aunt Ada stepped in to help.  From the looks of it, Ada must have planned dozens of funerals.  There had been so many decisions to make.  For example, until a few days ago, Lila wasn't aware casket exteriors had options such as fabric, veneer, and eco-friendly.  Veneer brought to mind the fake, slick surfaces of office furniture.  She'd even seen one with a Husker Red interior, complete with an embroidered Herbie Husker.

That wasn't for Grandpa Isaac, although he had dutifully watched his college football games from his easy chair.  No veneer, either.  The manufactured surface was nothing like Grandpa, who'd been tall and genuine, with a presence like a deep rooted oak tree.  You had to get him talking to see the roots.  They stretched all the way from Rock Springs, Wyoming, to  Auburn, Nebraska where they remained firmly planted.  They'd settled on solid oak for his casket.  It was the one extravagance.  Everything else about the funeral was kept simple, and Grandpa would have approved.

As far as Lila was concerned, the faster it was all over with the better, never mind that she had no idea what came next. 

The gathering dispersed, and Lila followed Ada and her friend Gladys to a large, angular, gold Cadillac.  Lila was somewhat mystified by Gladys.  Her lavender-tinged hair looked like a delicate poof on the top of her head, but Lila was certain if she touched it, it wouldn't budge.  She had to keep her hands clasped together to resist the urge.  The old woman wore thick bifocal glasses that covered a large portion of her face and enlarged her eyes.

As they neared the Cadillac, Ada was stopped by a friend offering her condolences.  Gladys took Lila's arm and they continued on together.  The old woman leaned toward her, and Lila noted the unmistakable smell of Aqua Net.  She wasn't even sure how she knew this.  Did they still sell Aqua Net? 

“
Thank you for giving us a ride, Gladys.  My rental car got me here all the way from Lincoln with no problems, but it was the strangest thing.  As soon as I came to Ada's street, it started making a ticking noise.  It rolled to a stop a few feet from her house and hasn't worked since.”

“
Oh it's no trouble at all, dear.”  Gladys said.  “I drive Ada most of the time anyway.  She has trouble with that old Chevy.  It's a pity about your car, but it'll work out all right.  You know, I don't see anything strange happen in this town anymore without asking why.  There's always a reason.”
Lila raised a brow.  “Like fate?”

“
Fate.  Interference.  Call it what you will.  Would you like to drive?”

Interference?  Lila wasn't sure she wanted to ask what that meant.  She took the keys and helped Gladys into the car, then slid into the drivers seat.