Tuesday Oct 16

Bobbie was up early again, filled with nervous energy. She made 2 kinds of muffins and took several fruit trays out of the fridge that had been dropped off by friends. She laid them on the island with the coffee and tea. She had 2 large ornate samovars, inherited from the Orlovs. Alex rewired them and now they were just large, fancy, heated coffee and tea urns. Bobbie filled them both. Florence came downstairs.

“Good morning Mom, help yourself to tea and and muffins and stuff and can you keep an eye on things while I get ready?”

Bobbie went to their ensuite and shut the door. She drew a bath and sank down into the water gratefully. She soaked for a while and felt calmer when she got out. She dressed carefully in a black velvet skirt with black tights. She wore a finely knit, rust coloured, cashmere v-neck and picked out some amber jewellery. She put Alex’s wedding band on a chain. He was being cremated and she wanted to keep it. She found a fairly recent picture when she was going though his things and decided to put it in a small frame by her bed. She picked it up and said, “It’s a tough one today dear, I have to say good-bye, and then we’ll have a little party for you. I sure wish you were waiting for me in the kitchen.” She shook her head and lay down for a few minutes, collecting herself before she put on her makeup.

Bobbie went downstairs at 10:00. Her sons and daughters-in-law were ready and the neighbour’s teenaged daughter was there to look after all the kids. She was given instructions and phone numbers and the assurance that she would be compensated handsomely. They decided the children were just too young. Bobbie thought the twins should go but she kept it to herself. Charlie and Eddy knew the children needed to say goodbye but wanted to support their mom, not have to divide their time wrangling kids. The visitation was to begin at 11:00 and the funeral was scheduled for 1:00. The reception (held at the funeral home) would last until 4:00, so they’d all be back by 4:30.

So many people came. There was not enough room in the Funeral home. Bobbie tried to talk with everyone but soon became overwhelmed and stood beside Eddy, smiling. “Eddy, this is more crowded than I thought it would be. I hope everyone signs the guest book because I’ll never remember who’s all here.”

The funeral was brief. There was no religious service but Alan, Alex’s oldest friend and business partner, gave a nice speech and then Eddie said a few words.

Florence got up to say a few words about Alex and his parents, “Alex came into our lives when Bobbie was just starting to find her own way in life and I couldn’t imagine a better partner and guide. They made each other so happy that we all felt joy in their presence. The Orlovs were open and gentle people and as parents and friends we helped each other support Alex and Bobbie as they raised their beautiful family. I look back on those times and people with both joy and sadness. We are all happier and better people for having known them.”

They moved to the reception room. Bobbie was amazed to see so many people. All of Alex’s co-workers were there and many old friends from Crow Harbour had come too.

Her friends from work were there, it was surreal seeing them and hard to remember that she would not see them at work tomorrow. Andrew Wong came over and hugged her. “We took a collection and donated to the food bank in Alex’s name.”

“Thanks so much Andrew. That was one of Alex’s favourite charities, we always volunteer to pack up boxes at Christmas.”

Friends of Charlie and Eddy were there too. Her own friends from Crow Harbour came and one was her old friend and singing partner Johnny Gold. He was chatting with Bobbie’s uncles Reg and Arnie. They were in their 70’s and were both single or widowed now and lived in a retirement community in Crow Harbour. Both had been pretty talented amateur musicians and Bobbie remembered them fondly from childhood family parties. She invited them back to her house for dinner after the reception.

Trixie and Barb joined her and Barb said, “Well that’s done. I think I’ll head back to your place and start warming up the funeral food you got”.

“Bobbie, Alex loved Chinese takeout, I’ll call in a big order and we’ll have that to add to the buffet.”

Barb said “I’ll send Jeremy (her husband) to get booze and wine.”

Bobbie was eternally grateful, “Thanks so much guys,” and headed towards the restroom.

Bobbie’s mother was in the restroom. She looked pale and shaky and had tears in her eyes, “Oh Mom are you OK?”

Her mom smiled weakly and said, “This funeral took me right back to your father’s funeral not so long ago and reminds me of how many people that are gone. I’ll be fine in a minute.”

Bobbie got her some water and suggested maybe she’d feel better at home and led her out and sat her down with Eddy while she went to get their coats.

Alan walked over and asked Bobbie to sit down. All Bobbie was thinking was that she would ask him and his young trophy wife to join them back to the house. Alan gave her a pained look, “I didn’t think it would go this way.”

“Go what way Alan?”

Alan handed her a legal looking document. It said ComCan has already filled Alex’s seat on the board and it’s clear that they own everything. “We have a document that proves Alex didn’t want to sell his shares, he wanted to donate them to the company. I’m sorry Bobbie you are not inheriting any ComCan shares,” he said as he walked away.

The paper lay on the table before her. Shock, and panic filled Bobby eclipsing the grief that had seemed so overbearing. She was practically vibrating. It must be a lie; how could Alan betray her like this? How could he betray Alex like this?

Charlie came over to her and asked how she was holding up. She slid the paper over to him.

Charlie looked it over and said, “What the Fuck!?”

At that moment Eddy came by wondering if they were leaving soon and Charlie handed him the document. Eddy stopped talking to scan the document and looked up, “So Dad gave away millions of dollars the week before he was set to retire? That makes no sense!”

Bobbie tried to keep her emotion in check and spoke thoughtfully, “Your Dad definitely did not mention giving up his shares. I’m going to look into this because something doesn’t add up but we should get home and try to put on a brave face. Even without the shares I think I’ll be OK.”

They got back to the house. Johnny and her uncles were having a sing along in the family room. People had already started on the buffet but Bobbie’s heart wasn’t in it. She noticed both Eddy and Charlie were talking with their pals and drinking pretty heavy and she didn’t blame them for wanting to blow off some steam. She slipped into her laundry room and when she was sure she was alone she sank to her knees and started to cry, really cry, “Oh Alex, I wish this was our retirement celebration and not your wake! It would be so much better if you were here.” She heaved and sobbed for almost ten minutes before she pulled herself up. She was about to drink some water to try and control the sobs when Clayton came in.

“Are you OK Gramma?” whispered Clay.

“Oh honey I’m… just a little sad … about Grampa,” which was about all she could get out through the sobs.

“Walt and I don’t know what to say, we don’t want you to be so sad.”

Bobbie tried to control her own grief and realized that the kids need help understanding this too. “It’s just a little…soon Clay, I’ll be staying with Grandma Great next week so I’ll pick you and Walt up after school one day and we’ll have a nice visit and a good talk about Grampa.”

“OK,” said Clay “are you coming back to the party?” He was confused and worried about her sobs.

“Don’t worry about me dear, I’ll be out in a few minutes,” she said. Clay might be Eddy’s son but she could see a lot of Charlie in him.

Bobbie managed to control herself and had a change of clothes in the laundry room along with a makeup bag to so when she emerged 10 minutes later she looked like she was all pulled together.

“Hi Mom did you get enough to eat?” asked Bobbie to Florence.

“Yes dear, I ate and helped get the children fed. I think we’re all about ready to turn in.”

“All right kids, who wants to head upstairs for a bedtime story?”

And surprise, surprise the kids all came with them willingly, it was almost 11:00 after a long day. Little Suzy was already asleep where she slept with her parents in Charlies old room. Eddy and Jen were in Eddy’s old room and the kids were all in the spare room. The bed was pushed against the wall where the girls (Niko and Laura) slept and the boys had air mattresses on the floor. Bobbie started reading and soon they were nodding off. She tucked them in and turned out the lights and went back to her room. Her mom was already in bed.

Bobbie went back downstairs, she could see that Jarrod wanted to leave but Jamie was tipsy and wanted to stay.

“Bobbie come over here and sing a song with with us.”

Aside from some Christmas carols, she hadn’t really sung with Johnny and Jamie for years. “What are you playing boys?”

She saw one uncle had his guitar and one had a Mandolin so she looked at Johnny and said, ”I think I need some Silly Wizard Johnny.”

They sang a few things together. She was starting to feel good.

People started to leave and Bobbie and Jamie were still singing.

“Jamie, it’s getting really late. We have to say good night now.”

“You’re right Jarrod, I’m sorry I was having fun and got carried away. Good night sis,” said Jamie, complete with a hug.

Bobbie, Johnny and her uncles kept singing and at about 3 o’clock Eddy came down and said, “It’s only you guys left, maybe we can turn off the amps?”

Eddy went back up and they laughed at how crazy it was that they still had the mics and amps on. The mood was mostly gone and Bobbie said she was going to bed.

“Good night Bobbie, I’ll call the minibus for the old age home, I call it the seniors Uber.”

“Reggie, you’re in Cit City and we’re staying at an Air B&B”

“Well, Johnny call the Uber for the BB then.”

“I could sleep right here, it wouldn’t bother me a bit,” cited Arnie.

“Arnie, Bobbies got a full house right now, here’s your coat. I’ll cook up some bacon and eggs when we get back to the house.”

Bobbie was upstairs before she heard the answer. She undressed carefully, put on her nightdress and got into bed. She tossed and turned until about 06:30 when she got out of that bed, having not slept a wink.