Author Anon

“I’d give him some time to grieve,” says Alex.

“Of course,” says Tara.  “Everyone needs a little time alone to face their grief.  We just want to make sure it doesn’t develop into something worse.  How about you?  How are you holding up?”

“I’m fine.  Aunt Julia and I were never really close, but she had been a big influence around here.  She always resented me a bit.”

“Why?”

“It wasn’t too long after her mother died that my grandfather married my grandmother.  And when they had a son, I guess Aunt Julia felt she had been supplanted.  She and my grandmother never got along very well and when she was old enough to move out, she took the money her mother left her and made the most of it.  I think she wanted to prove to my grandfather that she could become a success without his help.”

“Things did change, though, didn’t they?” asks Tara.

“Oh, yes.  After my grandmother died, she did come around more often to comfort my grandfather, but she kept herself somewhat distant to my parents and me.”

“And when your parents died, you had to come to your grandfather’s.”

“I had no one else to go to.  Aunt Julia wouldn’t have taken me in and I had no one I knew of on my mother’s side.”

“Didn’t Julia soften towards you at all?”

“Oh, after a while, I guess she felt some pity towards me.  She took an interest in my upbringing and education but she never, as far as I know, contributed anything.  She became more interested in the ranch and came often to give her two-cents’ worth.”

“What about friends?”

“The friends I had growing up seemed to drift away when my parents died.  It was like I had the plague.  They must not have known how to react.  Except for you.  You were the only one to reach out to me at that time.  I was very grateful and I missed you when I had to transfer schools.  I’m glad you’re back in our lives.”

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“Nicholas, here’s the information on Julia Golde’s funeral arrangements,” says Frank.  “We need to get an article in tomorrow’s paper about her life and accomplishments.  The family is sending an obit over today.”

“Okay, Mr. Steele,” says Nicholas.  “Will they allow us at the funeral or will it be a private function?”

“Julia Golde was too well-known for them to keep it too private,” says Frank.

“About her bio,” says Nicholas, “should I just go with what’s in the obit, or do you want more?”

“I’d like more, but the Silverman family has the inside scoop and scope on the Golde family, so unless one of them talks, none of that will appear until the next issue of Glitter comes out.”

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“You don’t have to keep it all in, Tracy,” says Paul.  “It would be better for you to let some of that tension out.”

“I can’t right now,” says Tracy.  “I have a lot of arrangements to make.  As you can see, it’s all up to me now.”

“My mom has offered to help with some of the arrangements.  Come on, I’m taking you out for some fun and relaxation.”

“Fun and relaxation?  Just when my mom has passed away?  What will everyone think?”

“I don’t care what they will think.  They can’t expect to have everything thrust on you suddenly, and for you to respond adequately.”  Paul takes her arm and leads her out.

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Filed under: All That Glitters