In Memoriam Read Online Free PDF Page A

Ed’s mother-in-law, Pam.”
    Brent’s funeral was just the opposite, with news cameras blocking the street of the funeral home. The police had to come to assist when the situation looked like it might turn into a circus. An arrest warrant for murder issued, Charles Hsu claimed he was acting in self-defense, but Brent wasn’t carrying a gun, and Hsu’s daughter said he wasn’t threatening her father. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Margaret Hsu, Charles’s wife, accused Brent of sexually assaulting Julie, claims Julie denied.
    The inevitable happened; Jack’s name was tied to Brent. All the old secrets and lies Pam hoped had been buried were brandished around, speculated upon, embellished. The tabloids had a field day for weeks, publishing the most intimate details of Jack’s life when several of his girlfriends came forward, thrilled to have their fifteen minutes of fame.
    One name Pam recognized; it was the girl who she’d run into at Jack’s horrible midtown apartment. Blythe. Pam worried for months after meeting her that she’d expose the particular secret that Jack had his own dungeon set up for S & M activities. Appalling as it was, Pam dealt with her, transferring the rental contract for the apartment from Jack’s name to Blythe so she could keep up the little business she’d developed. It must have been a great way to supplement her bartender income after Jack died and the stream of money he’d given her each month dried up. Pam fell under Blythe’s spell, too, and almost gave her money, until she came to her senses.
    When the tabloid story came out, it was easy to see that Blythe was the leak to the press. It was good for her business, the press and notoriety, but the public soon grew tired of it, because really, how many times can you use certain words or ideas before you become numb?
    Bernice was another source of stories for the press. Before the ladies moved to the beach, Pam had security posted at their rooms at the Eagle’s Nest to prevent reporters from sneaking interviews. That was until the administration put a stop to it, saying it was too disruptive to the residents. They’d succeeded once in talking to Bernice as she happily told them the entire story about her only surviving son, Bill. Serving fifteen years in Rikers for attempted murder, Bill broke into Pam’s house and put a knife to Nelda’s throat. It was another story that would run its course in the tabloids.
    The residents of Eagle’s Nest told Nelda and Bernice that the place was never as exciting as during the time the cops hung out in the hallway. Indignant, Pam told the director to take the rules and shove them. They would miss the revenue from two private rooms. With Nelda and Bernice moving in, Pam would stay involved in the ebb and flow of life. It would be a good move for everyone.
    While the rest of the world moved on, Pam struggled to find her stride. Nothing would ever be the same, but she knew she had to keep going. Ending her own life would ultimately be disrespectful to her son’s memory and cruel to Lisa.
     

Chapter 4
    Walking down North 3 rd pushing a stroller with a hitchhiker attachment, Sandra window-shopped, happy to be out of the house but not away from her children. In the past two months since she went back to work, she’d relinquished much of Miranda’s care to Virginia and Tom.
    This morning, she’d started a new routine. Baby Brent would have his morning bottle in Miranda’s room. Pushing a vibrating baby chair along the carpet with her foot, she sat him in it before getting Miranda out of her crib.
    “Hi, Momma,” Miranda said, smiling.
    Sandra’s heart melted. “Hi, baby, how’s Mandy doing today?” She lifted her up, kissing her cheek. “Come sit with me while I feed baby Brent.” She sat down in the big padded rocking chair and put Miranda beside her.
    Holding on to Brent’s bottle, Miranda was such a proud little girl. “I love my brother,” she said.
    Sandra leaned over to kiss