Page 4 (1/2)

"So I understand" Fideli’s eyes fixed on hers, and stayed there "May I see it, please?"

You never said no to a client, so she was searching for a way to turn it around when she spotted Mr Fairview co out of his office He must have seen that she needed help, because he ca his hand to Fideli They shook hands, looking oh so cordial Bryn kept her own smile with an effort as she said, "Mr Fideli would like to view the preparation area, sir"

Mr Fairview sent her a quick glance, then guided Mr Fideli back into Bryn’s office with one hand casually placed on their guest’s shoulder "Oh, I’m very sorry, but I’ like he’d love to take a recently bereaved on a downstairs tour of the one place they should never go "It’s strictly off-limits to anyone but licensed personnel Health concerns, you understand And, of course, ish to treat those entrusted to us with the highest order of care Thatstrange flickered over Mr Fideli’s expression; Bryn couldn’t quite catch it, but she thought it ht have almost been … amusement? "Of course," he said "Sorry I was just curious I wanted to be sure ht"

"Perfectly understandable," Bryn assured hih it wasn’t "Now, let’s talk about the urn you’ll want…"

She didn’t feel that she handled it all that well, but Mr Fairview didn’t step in for the rest of the , and Mr Fideli didn’t seem unhappy with it, either She shook hands with him at the end--he was taller than she ith a very firm handshake--and Mr Fideli walked off with a handful of information, but no contract or commitment

"Don’t worry, my dear," Mr Fairview said, when she closed the door and looked at hiuilt "Sometimes you simply can’t close the deal Mr Fideli is e like to call a comparison shopper He’ll come back eventually Usually, the first place he stops will also be his last He just wants to satisfy hi to bet that his brother hasn’t even passed on yet"

"Oh," she said "Wow That was … strange They’re usually more upset than that, aren’t they?"

"Mr Fideli did seem unusually self-contained But from the way he carried himself, I would assume he is ex-military, like you That would probably explain it" Mr Fairview looked at his watch "I have a four thirty set up with a Mrs Granberry I’d like you to take the lead on that one as well, if you don’t mind"

"Yes, of course" It was four fifteen Bryn rushed to the bathroom, fussed with her hair, and applied just a touch of lipstick She did so exercises, and smiled professionally at the htness in her cheeks She really needed to work on looking less happy

Bryn was standing right beside Mr Fairviehen the front bell tinkled its mournful note, and Mrs Granberry--a neat, dry-eyed wo a sad-looking teenage daughter who refused to raise her head

Mr Fairview io," he said "Just remember: stay focused on e’re here to do Don’t let yourself get carried away on the tide of emotion"

Bryn had no idea how he could tell the difference between Mrs Granberry and, say, Mr Fideli fro

Well, that was all right She was prepared for anything

Whatever Bryn had been prepared for, it wasn’t this Not raw, real, personal eer than she was The girl sitting across froh school Now that she’d finally raised her head, she kept staring at Bryn as if soo away As if the universe would right itself again It doesn’t work that way, Bryn wanted to say, and she had to fight against an iirl’s hand She’d worked as a grief counselor, but that had been phone-bank stuff; she hadn’t been there in person She hadn’t felt the personal impact of it quite this way Her parents were both still alive, thank God; she’d never lost anyone close to her--well, except for her sister Sharon, and that wasn’t the sa in afor everyone, eventually

The mother was both easier in one way, and more difficult in another--fortyish, solid, mostly impassive except when she dabbed at her eyes as if rief "My husband wanted a frugal sort of funeral," she announced as the opening shot Although Mr Fairview had introduced Bryn as leading the session, Mrs Granberry dismissed Bryn and focused on hi fancy And no viewing No e"

Bryn cleared her throat Mrs Granberry’s eyes moved to her, then back to Mr Fairview "How did your husband pass?" Bryn asked, and offered Mrs Granberry the tissue box The woman waved it impatiently away

"He died in his sleep," she said "Bad heart I always told him it would do hilared at her daughter, as if it were soirl flinched and looked down "I don’t knohat that has to do with anything"

"It’s very helpful to faives everyone a chance to say their good-byes Gives them a sense of closure," Bryn said "We would, of course, make your husband look just as you want to remember him; it’s part of our full service--"