Read Online The Plan by Kelly Bennett Seiler - Free Book Online Page A

him back, though her body was weak from all ofher recent inactivity. She’d always had a soft spot for Bill. He wasn’t much of a man, in her opinion. He never stood up to his wife, even to defend his own son when she would, on the rare occasion, get on Jack’s case. And, it was rare. Jack had walked on water and air and everything in between as far as Nancy was concerned. Bill was a mild-mannered man who, if Claire were to psychoanalyze him, she’d say he was a first-class enabler. He allowed Nancy to get away with all kinds of inappropriate behavior, toward her daughter-in-law and other people in their inner circle. Nancy was as sweet as cherry pie to perfect strangers, but as tart as a lime to her family members and a few old friends Claire felt kept Nancy around out of habit.
    â€œI’m okay,” Claire said as Bill let her go. He smelled like Jack. The same mixture of cologne and pine. She wanted to both push him away and hug him tighter.
    Claire’s eyes went to Nancy. The woman still sat perched at the edge of the couch, her legs tightly together, her hands folded in her lap, her lips pursed. Clearly, there would be no hug from her.
    â€œHi, Nancy,” Claire said, dutifully walking over to Jack’s mom and leaning down to peck her on her cheek. Despite the overabundance of flowery perfume she always wore, she smelled musty to Claire. Like the damp, stale smell that wafted into your nostrils the moment you opened the door to an antique store. Bill resumed his seat next to Nancy while Claire sat down in the big armchair next to the couch. Gia, who’d followed Claire down the stairs, pulled out a chair from the kitchen table, which was still in view, but far enough away to not be an active part of the conversation. Claire appreciated this. Gia knew all the sordid details of Claire’s relationship with her mother-in-law and, being the good friend she was, wasn’t about to leave Claire alone with her. Not yet, anyway. It was too soon.
    They all sat in silence for a few moments. Awkwardness permeated the room.
    â€œHow’ve you been?” Bill asked, even though he’d already asked her the same question when she came down the stairs. Despite the fact she really liked Bill, it was truly the most stupid question he could ever ask her once, let alone twice.
    â€œOkay,” she said again.
    â€œListen, Claire,” Nancy piped up. “We’re sorry to just stop over like this, but you know, you haven’t returned any of our calls.”
    Claire nodded. She didn’t have anything to say to that. She knew Gia had spoken to them a few times, because Gia told her so, but she’d never asked Gia what was said during those conversations.
    â€œThe funeral home called us because they couldn’t get hold of you.”
    Gia interrupted now. “They haven’t called the house.”
    â€œWell, I imagine they called Claire’s cell phone. Have you been answering that, too?” Nancy snapped. She didn’t wait for Gia to respond. “Anyhow, they couldn’t reach you and so they called us to say someone needed to come in to select the headstones.”
    Headstones? Claire hadn’t even thought about the fact someone had to select those—decide what was to be written on each one.
    â€œWe have an appointment in an hour,” Bill said gently. “We tried to call to tell you, in case you’d like to come, but …well, as we’ve said.”
    Claire nodded. Headstones. Headstone made it seem so final. So real. So cold and hard.
    When she pictured the heads of her babies, deep in slumber, she saw them surrounded by stuffed pandas and Winnie-the-Poohs and pillows that said, “Sweet Dreams.” Not a rigid piece of rock.
    â€œI’m assuming you’ll want to go with us,” Nancy continued. “We’ll wait while you get dressed.” Her tone was matter-of-fact. No nonsense. Of course Claire would go with