Sacred Trust. Hannah Alexander

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      Mercy stood for a moment at the casket after the service, tears sliding down her cheeks. She heard Tedi sniffling beside her and laid an arm around her daughter’s shoulders.

      “I can’t believe he came,” Mercy heard Ivy mutter as they filed out of the church behind the casket.

      “Why not, Mom?” The question came out more sharply than Mercy had intended. Ivy Richmond was one of the most stubborn people in Knolls, and she wasn’t afraid to express her views. She was obviously still laying blame at Dr. Bower’s feet for Grandma Jane’s death. “He seems to be a caring doctor, and he was very concerned about Grandma. He’s not her murderer.”

      Ivy shushed Mercy, then glanced pointedly at Tedi, who walked ahead of them.

      Mercy shrugged. “Just because the two of you disagreed on ideology doesn’t mean he’s a bad person. May I remind you I agreed with him.”

      “You didn’t try to force me or manipulate me into changing my mind. Besides…you don’t understand my reasoning. Not really.”

      “You expect a stranger to understand something your own daughter doesn’t?”

      Tedi glanced up at her mother as they reached the vestibule. “It’s because Granny Jane wasn’t saved, Mom. Grandma Ivy was concerned for her soul.”

      Mercy sucked in her breath in a sigh of irritated frustration. That again. This Christian business was just going too far, and Ivy never wasted a moment in her attempts to try to indoctrinate Tedi into every aspect of it.

      As they turned to greet the first of the funeral attendees, Mercy had no time to comment.

      This part of the funeral procession was the most trying to Mercy, as it had been five years ago at Dad’s funeral. As with Dad, it looked as if the whole town had shown up to pay their “respects.” Mercy had learned long ago not to trust what people said to your face. At times like this, they were all high on emotionalism. Try them later, when you were fighting for custody of your child and needed a friend, or you lost your practice and needed patients.

      She saw Dr. Bower coming toward them, walking beside Lauren McCaffrey. He probably didn’t realize it, but his expressive face showed his discomfort clearly. So why was he here? He didn’t even know Grandma. And he didn’t seem like the politicking type.

      He took Mercy’s hand gently. “Again, Dr. Richmond, I’m sorry.” He seemed sincere, his clear blue eyes steady and earnest as he spoke. When he reached Ivy he hesitated.

      To Mercy’s surprise, Mom took his hand. “Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to attend Mother’s funeral.”

      If he caught the sarcasm in her voice, he didn’t show it.

      Then Jarvis spotted him. “Hello, Dr. Bower. Who’s watching the shop?”

      “Dr. Camp agreed to spell me for a couple of hours. Today’s his day off.”

      “You might consider going through me next time.”

      Jarvis’s tone held no rancor, but Mercy tensed. She would not allow Jarvis to reprimand one of his staff right here at her own grandma’s funeral.

      “Sorry, Dr. George,” Dr. Bower said quietly. “I tried to contact you.”

      “No harm done. Camp’s a good doc.”

      To Mercy’s surprise, Jarvis shook the younger man’s hand and even smiled, though it looked more like a grimace.

      Later, as the four of them rode in the limousine to the cemetery, Mercy overheard her mother speaking to Jarvis quietly under cover of the soft gospel music that floated over them.

      “What’s up between you and Dr. Bower?” Ivy asked. “You waiting for him to hang himself?”

      Jarvis tugged at the collar of his starched white shirt—probably the only starched shirt he had. “He’s too smart for that. Do you know he ranked third in his class when he graduated from Kirksville?”

      “You СКАЧАТЬ