Read Online Kelly's Koffee Shop (A Cedar Bay Cozy Mystey Book 1) by Dianne Harman - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Dianne Harman
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of
her, made eye contact with her, and nodded.
Good, we can both leave
early and not attract attention.
She looked at the card
she’d been given with the photo of Amber on it and the quote from Psalm 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” I don’t know
if Father Brown or Bob and Ginger chose that, but it’s certainly appropriate.
She opened the card and
read the short paragraph about Amber that was printed on the left side. The
schedule for the service was printed on the right side. She’d been curious as
to who would be speaking about Amber and mentally gave Brandon a lot of credit
for agreeing to do it. It didn’t matter how old someone was, speaking at a
funeral was not easy, and when the young woman you loved had been murdered,
that had to be about as bad as it gets. The principal of the high school, the
student body president, and Amber’s Girl Scout leader from years ago, were also
listed as speakers. Looking around the church, it seemed that every student who
attended the high school had come to the service. Even though there were no
more seats, people continued to file into the church, standing wherever they
could find space.
Kelly recognized Amber’s
best friend, Lindsay Williams, as she walked up to the microphone. She began
the service by singing the 23 rd Psalm, “The Lord’s My Shepherd I’ll
Not Want” hymn. Kelly wiped away the tears that started sliding down her cheeks
with a tissue she’d brought just for that purpose. From the sounds of sniffles
and quiet crying that filled the church, she wasn’t the only one with a tear in
her eye.
Father Brown walked to the
podium of the Catholic Church dressed in his usual white alb. A large bay
window overlooking the ocean was behind him, creating a peaceful scene. He was
a rather short man and could barely see over the podium. His substantial girth
made it hard for him to get close enough to the podium to read his written
notes. A brown fringed short beard and shaggy bangs gave him a perennial
hangdog look which only made him seem all the more accessible to helping people
with their real and perceived sins. He was a priest who passionately cared
about his flock and they loved him for it.
One of the things that
most endeared him to his parishioners was his willingness to skirt the edges of
church conformity when he felt it was necessary or appropriate. Ginger and Bob
had asked him if he would make the service a little more personal given the
nature of the crime and the age of their daughter. He agreed with the
stipulation that the traditional funeral Mass be offered. The three of them
decided to have a very simple service consisting of songs, the Lord’s Prayer,
Mass, and a few people speaking about their remembrances of Amber.
He began, “We gather
together today to support the family of Amber Cook and to pray for her and
celebrate her ascension into heaven. She was taken from us at far too young an
age. I don’t think we need to dwell on the tragedy of her death. I hope we can
all find forgiveness in our hearts for whoever took her from us. It is not us
he or she will have to answer to, it is God. We can take refuge in knowing that
Amber believed in God and has entered the Kingdom of Heaven, a bright shining
new angel who is probably smiling down at us this very moment.
“Dealing with death is
never easy for those of us who are left behind, but today we must be joyful
knowing that Amber has gone home to be with her Lord. I’ve known Amber since
she was born and I know of her deep faith. She would be the first to tell us to
rejoice, that she is safe in the loving arms of the Lord. We all knew that
someday she would be with the Lord, it’s just that she’s there a little sooner
than we thought she would be.”
“Ginger, Bob, we know
you’re in pain, but please call on us to help you get through this. We are all
part of God’s family and families help each other during tragedies and sad
times. When you
her, made eye contact with her, and nodded.
Good, we can both leave
early and not attract attention.
She looked at the card
she’d been given with the photo of Amber on it and the quote from Psalm 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” I don’t know
if Father Brown or Bob and Ginger chose that, but it’s certainly appropriate.
She opened the card and
read the short paragraph about Amber that was printed on the left side. The
schedule for the service was printed on the right side. She’d been curious as
to who would be speaking about Amber and mentally gave Brandon a lot of credit
for agreeing to do it. It didn’t matter how old someone was, speaking at a
funeral was not easy, and when the young woman you loved had been murdered,
that had to be about as bad as it gets. The principal of the high school, the
student body president, and Amber’s Girl Scout leader from years ago, were also
listed as speakers. Looking around the church, it seemed that every student who
attended the high school had come to the service. Even though there were no
more seats, people continued to file into the church, standing wherever they
could find space.
Kelly recognized Amber’s
best friend, Lindsay Williams, as she walked up to the microphone. She began
the service by singing the 23 rd Psalm, “The Lord’s My Shepherd I’ll
Not Want” hymn. Kelly wiped away the tears that started sliding down her cheeks
with a tissue she’d brought just for that purpose. From the sounds of sniffles
and quiet crying that filled the church, she wasn’t the only one with a tear in
her eye.
Father Brown walked to the
podium of the Catholic Church dressed in his usual white alb. A large bay
window overlooking the ocean was behind him, creating a peaceful scene. He was
a rather short man and could barely see over the podium. His substantial girth
made it hard for him to get close enough to the podium to read his written
notes. A brown fringed short beard and shaggy bangs gave him a perennial
hangdog look which only made him seem all the more accessible to helping people
with their real and perceived sins. He was a priest who passionately cared
about his flock and they loved him for it.
One of the things that
most endeared him to his parishioners was his willingness to skirt the edges of
church conformity when he felt it was necessary or appropriate. Ginger and Bob
had asked him if he would make the service a little more personal given the
nature of the crime and the age of their daughter. He agreed with the
stipulation that the traditional funeral Mass be offered. The three of them
decided to have a very simple service consisting of songs, the Lord’s Prayer,
Mass, and a few people speaking about their remembrances of Amber.
He began, “We gather
together today to support the family of Amber Cook and to pray for her and
celebrate her ascension into heaven. She was taken from us at far too young an
age. I don’t think we need to dwell on the tragedy of her death. I hope we can
all find forgiveness in our hearts for whoever took her from us. It is not us
he or she will have to answer to, it is God. We can take refuge in knowing that
Amber believed in God and has entered the Kingdom of Heaven, a bright shining
new angel who is probably smiling down at us this very moment.
“Dealing with death is
never easy for those of us who are left behind, but today we must be joyful
knowing that Amber has gone home to be with her Lord. I’ve known Amber since
she was born and I know of her deep faith. She would be the first to tell us to
rejoice, that she is safe in the loving arms of the Lord. We all knew that
someday she would be with the Lord, it’s just that she’s there a little sooner
than we thought she would be.”
“Ginger, Bob, we know
you’re in pain, but please call on us to help you get through this. We are all
part of God’s family and families help each other during tragedies and sad
times. When you
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