Bitter Farewell by Karolyn James Page B

a prayer before the procession would go to the cemetery for another prayer and then the final goodbyes.
    Danny did his best to smile and slowly realized that while the people coming may not have been there to necessarily say goodbye to his father, they were there to shake his hand in support. Not a single person asked for an autograph or picture, and minus the one woman looking for a date, everyone remained respectful and calm.
    Just when Danny thought it was all over and he could relax, he heard a booming voice.
    “Oh, we always went way back...”
    Before Danny could process the image coming through the door, he saw Charlie walking with a cane and his free arm interlocked with the woman from the house... Lorraine , Danny told himself. Right behind Lorraine came Liv.
    Liv.
    Johnnie grabbed at Danny’s sleeve. Danny shook loose and leaned towards Rick.
    “Now, please,” he whispered.
    Rick slipped Danny the flask. Danny turned and took a big drink, not really caring if people saw what was happening. The liquor burned like hell. It was straight whiskey that Rick had put in the flask. It didn’t surprise Danny at all, Rick loved whiskey.
    Danny looked at the flask and then at his father.
    Like father, like son...
    Danny didn’t smile at that thought, but he did drink to it.
    He handed Rick the flask back and prepared for the next - and final - round of handshakes, hugs, and I’m so sorry ’s.
    He couldn’t keep his eyes off Liv.
    She wore black pants and a black shirt. She had her hair pulled back and done up, leaving her creamy neck exposed. Danny pointed out a few of the freckles on her neck that the tip of his tongue used to be addicted to. He felt pain and jealousy shooting up and down his body.
    Charlie shuffled along with Lorraine and Liv stayed a step behind, trying to look around the funeral home. She finally succumbed and made eye contact with Danny. And just like that, time seemed to stand still once again. Nothing mattered but those two brown eyes staring back at him. He saw everything in Liv’s eyes, more than he could explain to anyone. More than the past... more than the moment right there... it was like staring at his entire world.  Liv stood in place and swallowed a few times, her eyes looking ready to shed tears.
    I’m so sorry.
    It wasn’t quite the three words he wanted to see on her lips, but it was something. And he wasn’t sure what she was exactly sorry for. The loss of his father? Chasing him out of the house yesterday? Or sorry for letting him kiss her?
    Danny felt the whiskey doing its job and he mouthed something back to Liv.
    I miss you.
    Liv looked straight ahead and Danny wouldn’t get a chance to speak to her again until her time in line came.
    Charlie gripped Danny’s hand with the faded resemblance of what used to be a vicious vice like grip.
    “I’m sorry, Danny,” Charlie said. “I sure miss fishing with Big John... he could catch anything. Anytime. Any weather.”
    “Thank you,” Danny said.
    Some of the people spoke about attempted good times and stories as though Big John was a good man. Danny just had to go with it and smile.
    Lorraine gave him a hug and whispered into his ear, “Whatever you did yesterday... just don’t hurt her... she can’t take it...”
    Lorraine patted the back of Danny’s head and then tended to Charlie, helping him to a seat.
    Then came Liv.
    There was an awkward moment when Danny offered his hand and Liv opened her arms. Then Danny opened his arms and Liv offered her hand. They smiled and settled on a hug. Danny didn’t care how hard he squeezed Liv. Feeling her body against his was everything to him right then. The hug lasted a few seconds too long and Liv had to pry herself away.
    “I’m just sorry,” she whispered.
    “I am too,” Danny said. “I need you to know...”
    Liv continued her walk and Danny’s mouth ached for the flask again... if he couldn’t have Liv’s lips, the flask was the only other thing that could help