Bury Me Deep
The service was so lovely, Mary thought she should take pictures to show Ella later, though that seemed ridiculous. “Look, friend. See how lovely you were when you were dead?” She almost started laughing and had to cover her mouth. While she had no idea what the pastor was saying, it wouldn’t be appropriate to laugh in the middle of the service.
Bart was standing next to her, and he looked anything but amused. This was it--in a moment, they’d all go say their “final” goodbyes to Ella, and then everyone would leave. Jeff and his team would take the casket inside the mausoleum. She and Bart wouldn’t be going anywhere, though. They’d stay in the cemetery and wait for Ella to make her miraculous recovery.
After the last prayer was said, people took their time going up to view the princess in the coffin and say their last goodbyes. Mary wondered who all of these people were; Ella hardly knew anyone in LA. They must’ve been friends of her father.
Mary hung back from the coffin, as did Bart, waiting for everyone else to go through. Mr. Sinders was teary-eyed. Teresa and her daughters were sobbing, but it was apparent to Mary it was totally fake. It made her sick to see them trying to get attention over the death of a girl they’d treated so poorly for so long.
The one person Mary did feel sorry for was Ella’s Aunt Genevieve. Not only had she just lost her son, she thought she’d lost her niece, too. She truly was beside herself with tears, just as she had been at Tim’s funeral a few days ago. She was also angry. Mary had been within earshot when Gen had shouted at Lloyd that this was all his fault, and he should’ve patched things up with Verona a long time ago, or at the very least, left his daughter alone to be with her husband. For once, Sinders had little to say, only standing there taking it before he stoically walked away.
Mary finally reached the coffin and looked inside. Ella really did look gorgeous--like Sleeping Beauty. To anyone who didn’t know, it would be easy to believe she was dead. Mary wanted to whisper, “See you later, friend,” but she kept it to herself, walking along so that the few people behind her could say their respects.
Once everyone else was gone, Mary and Bart sat beneath some nearby trees and watched Jeff and his team move the casket inside the mausoleum. They came out a few moments later and closed the door most of the way, but not all the way. Jeff lifted his hand in Bart’s direction, as if to signal they were set, and then walked away.
“Well, it’s all over but the waiting,” Mary said, absently tugging at the grass.
“Yep--but we do have a problem. There was a member of the paparazzi here. I saw him taking pictures from the trees. Which means, it’s just a matter of time before the shit hits the fan. I hope we can get her out of there without any photographers seeing.”
“I hope Antonio can get word to Rome before he finds out. I’d hate for him to think even for a second that Ella’s dead. Who knows what he’ll do.”
Bart nodded. “I spoke to Antonio earlier. He said he’d head straight to Rome’s family home. He’ll let me know how it goes.”
Mary let out a long sigh. So far so good--but things could go wrong at any turn. “First things first, I guess. Hopefully, Ella will wake up in a few hours, and then we can get out of here before anyone’s the wiser.”
“Hopefully,” Bart agreed. He managed a small smile, and Mary returned it, praying everything went off as planned, and Ella and Rome would be that much closer to being together.
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