Grampy's funeral took place on a frigid Tuesday morning at the Angels of Mary church just outside El Paso, Texas. Loads of family, good friends, and Grampy's colleagues came to pay their last respects.
There were tears, but also tons of laughter and happy memories. Talia herself wrote and delivered the eulogy.
She spoke softly, with a voice filled with gratitude and love. She spoke of the kind of man he was, always willing to help anyone in need. Even if he didn't know them from a hole in the earth. Even if he was flat broke busted himself.
"He raised me in his house since I was three and a half years old," she said, her eyes full of grateful tears. "He taught me to be honest. He taught me never to judge or make fun of anyone. He taught me to ride my first bicycle. He read me stories. Told me made-up stories. He taught me to love learning. To love animals. Mostly...he taught me just to love."
When it was time for the graveside service, Talia sat with her Grandparents in the front row of seats. It wasn't until people were coming to give their final condolences and leaving that she saw them.
Mum and Dad were standing stiffly under a sprawling willow tree. She couldn't see their expressions, but she knew they were glaring at her. That slow, seething, jealous glare she had grown up with all her life.
She's happy. They're both miserable. Always have been, always will be. They're jealous of their own daughter, for pity's sake! Though why, she's never been able to figure out.
She ignored them until the last possible moment. After Grandad, Grammy, and Granny were all tucked safely inside the house following the service, they ambushed her outside.
"I see you decided you could make it after all." Talia stared at them with daggers in her eyes. "It's about time you did something right."
"That was a rotten thing you said in the chapel," Mum grabbed her by the wrist, but Talia shoved her away.
"It was the truth, Mum. Every word of it. You and Dad know it, and I know it. You and Dad never wanted a kid. You were thrilled to get me out from underfoot and send me to live with my Grandparents! You know what, though? I'm grateful to you both for doing it! At least I knew love and what it means to be a better person."
Before they could utter a reply, Talia walked into the house and shut the door in their faces.
That should have been the end of the ordeal, but it wasn't.
Three days later, Mum and Dad left town without so much as a goodbye. That night, Talia lay in bed unable to sleep.
Something Mum had said to her on the phone before finally showing up for the service was nagging at her.
"We were in Aruba last week!"
Aruba. Aruba? How the hell could they afford Aruba? They'd never saved one single penny their whole lives. So how?
Her parents' selfishness was about to reveal itself in the most unimaginable way.
Without a word to Granny, Talia started taking matters into her own hands.
To be continued.
