"I'm so sorry for your loss dear"
A phrase repeated to Rita many times today, as she stands at the cemetery trying to understand how the last week had changed so much, and so quick.
Bonny and her parents close by, a 15 year old girl should not have to cope with this, yet she is stoic and doing her best not to fall into the grave with her parents.
It would be so much easier to disappear with them, it hurts so much. Rita thought
Bonny sensed Rita's unease and gripped her friends hand tightly, reassuringly. Looking around, there must have been 50 or more people standing around the open graves of the two highly respected professionals, the loving couple who had done so much for the town, the Santobahn Foundation, and indeed the environment. Elected officials, business officials, Santobahn company directors and officials, and of course, Luke Jensen.
Santobahn public relations officer Luke Jensen had been a long time friend of Brian and Heather. Rita had seen him a few times out and about, as well at her place if her parents were hosting a dinner. He seemed nice and had been helping Rita over the last few days with funeral arrangements. He had a keen interest in what she was going to say in her eulogy. It didn't seem strange, at the time, he was just helping. He had asked Rita to send him any copies of a speech or anything she wanted included in papers, stating he could help her format it if required, acknowledging this was a hard time for her, especially at only 15 years of age.
"Hello Rita my dear, are you ready?"
Startled, Rita took a second to gather herself. Luke had walked straight up to Rita, though she was lost in her thoughts and didn't notice him.
"Ah, oh. Yes, ok." Rita managed to say.
Not being overly religious in the traditional sense, there was no priest, no church, just the people who cared about the family. Rather than two graves, there was one large one with both coffins suspended above, ready to be lowered when the time was right. The coffins were covered with drapes that had pictures of trees, birds and nature on them. These were actually sheets Rita found in an Opportunity Shop one day and love them, so her parents used them as colourful coveralls at times.
With the service complete, the coffins were slowly lowered down into the final resting place, as a lone piper played Amazing Grace.
As the bagpipes sound, and the coffins lower, Rita is unable to hold herself and collapses to the ground, crying and screaming out.
"Mum! Dad! Why? Don't leave me! I Love You! I Need You!"
Tears streaming from Rita's tortured eyes, her screams and cries enough to cause anyone else to join in with tears of empathy and sadness for her.
Bonny and her parents move to Rita and embrace her in a loving hug, just as Rita was moving toward the edge of the grave, trembling on her hands and knees, as if trying to get in with her parents.
Rita is held by the three as they all embrace and show their love for Rita, who will now be their daughter to continue to raise.
In a stroke of good fortune, some years ago Brian and Heather completed their wills and guardianship, with Jan and Doug Weston (Bonny's parents) agreeing to be guardians for Rita should anything happen to them both.
At the time, it was never expected that it would be needed, though now, it was a pure blessing for all concerned. Brian and Heather completed their legal paperwork at the time Santobahn was engaging their employees to complete wills, power of attorney, and guardianship papers.
However, the intent of Santobahn seemed to have an underwritten desire for their employees estates and guardianship to be left to Santobahn - a sneaky little clause, explained under the auspice that the company was trying to assist it's people and were happy to stand in if no one else could be found.
A large percentage of staff did in fact sign up, but not Brian and Heather. They wanted to ensure the safety of their daughter and estate, at this point in time, it was lucky they took such steps so Rita could be secure with Bonny and her parents, who were good friends and confidants of Brian and Heather.