Second Look (A New Beginning Book 3) by Connie Stephany Page B

sure we’ll be heading out there soon. I’m so glad you came. It means a lot to me.”
    Mandi pulled them both in for another hug.
    “I’m here for you.” she reminded her friend, “even if I do stay in the back. And I’ll talk to him soon, Mandi. I promised your dad. Just…not today. It’s not right today.”
    Jennifer saw Mandi look over at her brother, heading their way, and her friend nodded her head. “I understand. Go ahead.”
    Cassandra nodded. “See you there.”
    Jennifer walked away grasping Cassandra’s hand to pull her quickly along.
    “Jennifer, can you loosen your grip, please?”
    “What?” Jennifer asked, and then looked down at their joined hands, where hers had a grip so hard it was turning Cassandra’s a dark pink. “Oh, sorry!”
    Cassandra started shaking her hand. “I think we’re safe now. I don’t think he saw you.”
    “He saw me.”
    She was being childish but she just didn’t want to cause a scene at the funeral.
    Cassandra’s eyes widened. “He did?”
    “Yeah, he looked right at me. I wonder if his vision is as good as it used to be though. He is getting old, you know.”
    As Jennifer approached her car, she braved another glance towards the church one last time.
    Adam was still looking their way.
    Yeah, he saw her. There was no doubt about it.
    She’d have to call him soon.

Chapter Seven

    Adam
    My mind is playing tricks on me
    Adam could have sworn he saw Jennifer at the funeral and then at the cemetery, but he chalked it up to how much he thought of her lately, especially after his dad insisted he saw her. Surely Mandi would have told him if she was back in town. Wouldn’t she?
    Adam walked over to Mandi, who was standing in the back of the room, watching people going through the buffet line.
    “How ya holding up?”
    Mandi jumped and smacked him in the arm. “You scared me, you jerk! I didn’t notice you walk up.”
    “Sorry. I thought you saw me since I walked right up to you in your line of view.”
    Mandi rolled her eyes. “Smart ass.”
    “Dumb ass.”
    “Spoiled brat.”
    “Punk.”
    They both laughed. It was almost a relief something so silly could make them both feel better on such a hard day.
    “Seriously though, I feel like I’m losing it or seeing things.”
    He shook his head in confusion and scanned the room.
    “Why? What do you mean?”
    “I could’ve sworn I saw Jennifer.”
    Mandi quickly looked away and then back at him before shrugging.
    “What did you think of the ceremony?”
    Adam’s eyes narrowed at his sister. “Nice change of subject, you worm.”
    “Jerk.”
    “Hippie.”
    “Assclown.”
    “Okay, you two, that’s enough.”
    Crap, how does she always catch us?
    “Sorry mom. She’s hiding something from me, something about Jennifer I think.”
    He couldn’t believe it when his mom also shrugged her shoulders and changed the subject, just like Mandi did.
    “What did you kids think of the ceremony?”
    His mom was in on it too? What the hell were they hiding? It obviously had something to do with Jennifer. Was she actually back in town? Did she fly in for the funeral and no one told him?
    He let it go for the time being, considering where they were, but he would get to the bottom of it, especially if it meant he may be able to see Jennifer.
    “Alright, change the subject. We’ll talk again later,” Adam stated to the both of them and then continued. “It was a really nice ceremony, mom. Dad would’ve liked it and would be proud of the way you held it together.”
    “Yes, well, I’ve done my fair share of crying. I’m sure I’ll cry some more later, but for now I’m trying to keep it together.”
    “Well, even if you don’t, you deserve to break down and have a temper tantrum if you feel like it, mom.”
    Adam’s attempt at a joke was well received and his mom burst out laughing, but she also had tears in her eyes.
    “It’s been a hard day, that’s for sure,” Mandi told them, and then pulled them both in