Missing Persons Read Online Free PDF Page A

from his high school. She had had visions that Frank would go on to Harvard, maybe run for Senate someday. It was like she had never met her own son, who was so disinterested in politics that he’d never even registered to vote. It didn’t matter. In her mind, I’d kept him from a life of influence and glory.
    His father, Alex Conway, on the other hand, had seen firsthand that Frank had the ambition of a well-fed cat. Though he’d never directly said it, I’d felt he understood my frustrations and was a little embarrassed that his son hadn’t done more with his life.
    “Hi,” I said as Ellen and I entered the office. “I’m Mrs. Conway,” I told the director. I heard a disparaging sigh from Frank’s mother.
    “I’m so sorry for your loss,” the director said. He looked like a man who spent his days with the dead. His slight, almost skeletal, body was covered by an expensive three-piece suit in a somber gray. What hair he had was slicked back, and a pair of bifocals was perched dangerously close to the end of his nose.
    “We’ve been making the plans while we waited for you,” Alex said.
    “I’m sorry about that.” I smiled apologetically. “I’ve been getting a lot of phone calls from Frank’s friends.”
    “He had so many friends.” Lynette buried her head in her tissue and cried. I wanted to go over and comfort her, but I knew I wouldn’t be welcome.
    “I’m so sorry, Alex.” I hugged his dad. “It’s not supposed to happen this way, is it? A parent isn’t supposed to bury his child.”
    “These last few months have been surreal. How are you holding up, kiddo?”
    I shrugged. “I don’t know what to feel, it’s just so unbelievable.”
    So was standing with my in-laws, or ex-in-laws, or whatever they were, making polite conversation. Alex moved toward his wife. Ellen took my hand. We all stood awkwardly for a minute.
    “If I might suggest some options for you, Mrs. Conway.” The director broke the silence.
    “ I’m Mrs. Conway,” Lynette said.
    “So is Kate,” Ellen told her.
    The director nodded patiently. It was clear from his demeanor this wasn’t the first long-standing family argument to play out its final scene in his office. “Every one of Mr. Conway’s loved ones is to be included in the decisions, obviously.”
    “We’re paying for it, so we’re making the decisions,” Lynette said.
    For a moment I considered arguing the point, but I had less than a thousand dollars in my bank account so I couldn’t fight them even if I wanted to. And did I want to? Was it really my responsibility anymore? I sat quietly while Frank’s parents picked the most expensive package there was and made arrangements for his burial in a plot they already owned.
    When they bought the plots, there were three adjoining ones available, and Lynette suggested they get a fourth for me “nearby.” We turned them down, but Frank and I used to joke that his mother would figure out a way to spend eternity next to her favorite child. Sitting there, I realized she’d gotten what she wanted.
    “All that’s left now,” the director said, “is for the next of kin to sign the papers allowing for the transfer of his body to our custody.” He held up a pen and, after a moment’s hesitation, Alex leaned forward.
    Ellen grabbed it. “She’s the next of kin,” she said and gave the pen to me.
    “Only legally,” Lynette said.
    “Legally is what counts,” Ellen told her.
    “He died of stress.” Lynette spat the words at her. “Stress caused by the divorce.”
    “Frank cheated on Kate. Frank left Kate.” Ellen was barely containing her anger. “If Frank died of stress, it’s stress he caused.”
    “Men don’t cheat if they’re getting what they need at home,” Lynette shouted.
    “That’s enough.” Frank’s father jumped out of his seat. “We’re all emotional. We’re not thinking. Lynette and I will handle the rest of the arrangements. Kate will, of course, be presented as