Read Online We Didn’t See it Coming by Christine Young-Robinson - Free Book Online Page B

belts are securely fastened.”

Chapter 10
    T he Houstons and Baron received the official news from the autopsy that both Rupert and Alana died from massive heart attacks. This allowed them to proceed with the combined funeral as planned.
    Many came to Lake Murray Church to the services of Rupert and Alana. Rows of flowers lined the front of the church. The funeral consisted of masses of men dressed in black suits. The women were dressed in sleeveless black dresses. Some wore black hats on their heads to avoid the burn of the hundred-degree weather.
    The Houstons stepped out of the limousine from oldest to youngest. Each sister was dressed in a white linen sleeveless dress. Milandra made sure of that. Kenley insisted on not wearing a white hat like her sisters. Her hair bounced on her shoulders.
    Inside the church, with their heads up high, they walked down the aisle holding each other’s hands. Milandra gave strict instructions—especially to her baby sister—that there would be no tears shed in the public eyesight. No photographer would dare print photos of the Houstons’ daughters crying in a newspaper. No mockery would be made of them.
    Kenley held tight to her tears. At times, she felt the pressure oftrying to stay true to being a Houston. Too many rules came with it. She looked over at her sisters and followed the stern look on their faces. The only thing that dripped down their faces was perspiration from the humid heat. They went up to the caskets and took one last look at their parents.
    â€œI can’t do this,” Kenley said as she tried to pull away from her sisters.
    Milandra gripped her hands tight. “Kenley Houston, if you really loved Mother and Father, you’ll not embarrass them in this way. They wouldn’t care for you behaving improperly in front of the public.”
    Milandra jerked her hand discreetly and Kenley stood along with her sisters, saying good-bye to her parents for the last time. She closed her eyes tight when she felt the need to cry. Noelle took deep breaths to keep from falling apart.
    Baron made his way down the aisle and leaned over to speak to them: “Hello there, ladies, do you need any tissues?” He held up a box of Kleenex.
    â€œMr. Chavis, we’re our parents’ daughters. Don’t dare bring tissues to us in front of the public,” Milandra said, embarrassed.
    â€œCalm down. I was only checking,” he said as he sat in the front row on the right side.
    Noelle wanted to defend him, but it wasn’t the right time.
    Aniyah, dressed in a hot pink suit, entered the back of the church. Her top clung to her body and her skirt stopped nowhere near her knees. Dark shades covered her eyes. A wide-brimmed, pink straw hat was pulled down over her face.
    Aniyah stood up on high-heeled sandals to match the rest of her outfit. She sat in the first row that she came to in the back of the church. She slid all the way over to the far right of the pew.
    People continued to flow into the church. Aniyah looked up, and to her surprise, Tessa walked in. She slid down in the seat, turning her head away from the aisle, to avoid being noticed by Tessa.
    Tessa was dressed in a black dress. A small black hat accented her dress. She wiped her tearful eyes. She strolled to the front until she approached the Houstons. “It’s been a long time,” she said as she looked down at Milandra, now all grown up.
    â€œI’m sorry, but I don’t know who you are?” Milandra said.
    â€œI used to work for your parents when you were younger. The prettiest girl I ever did see. You had such a beautiful mother.”
    â€œWhat’s your name?” Milandra asked, curious.
    â€œTessa Sanchez.”
    â€œHello, Tessa. I do remember you. You’re the help who used to let me lick the spoon from your chocolate cake.”
    â€œYou remember that?” Tessa smiled.
    â€œThis is my sister, Noelle, and our youngest sister,