Chapter 1: Exposition
Ben's wake was over. Megan stood by the front door hugging people she'd never met before today and thanking them for coming, for the flowers, for their condolences. It was a ritual she participated in numbly, just as she had gone through the rest of the sad, tiring dsy. One by one they each filed out with a parting remark.
"At least it was quic and he didn't suffer,"
"It was a lovely service,"
"If you need anything dear, you know where we are,"
Megan thanked each of them because she was supposed to, because that's what everyone expected of the widow. It didn't matter that she was exhausted, that she just wanted to go to bed, they wanted her to be a composed and grateful hostess so that they could feel OK about leaving. Mark and Caitlin were last in line.
Megan had met Mark a handful of times. The position of best man at her wedding had been reserved for Ben's brother but Megan suspected that Ben would have preferred Mark for the role. Ben and Mark had grown up togerher and, as sometimes happens with old friends, lost and regained touch a half dozen times over the years. Their friendship was like an elastic band, stretching and snapping back into place whenever they needed it, or it had been, Megan reminded herself.
Caitlin was Mark's girlfriend. Megan had never met Caitlin before and she was fairly sure Ben hadn't either but that was fine, she was here to support Mark.
"I'm so sorry, Megan," Caitlin drawled sweetly taking Megan's hand in hers.
They were a cute couple, Megan thought. Caitlin