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mother this night, she would slip away forever.
    F inally, Mary knew she could no longer remain, “Goodnight Mother, I’ll see you in the morning,” Mary whispered as she kissed her cheek. Mary quietly left the room, hoping when she awoke, her mother would be with them for one more day.
    W hen Mary awoke the next morning, she saw her father weeping at the table. She went to him and without speaking laid her hand on his shoulder and cried. He gently reached up and patted her hand. Words did not need to be spoken, for Mary knew her mother was gone.
    “It ’s over, Mary, your mother passed during the night. Thomas is getting the preacher now.” Her father said visibly shaken. He was always strong and in control. She noticed he had a drink before him. Her mother would not have allowed him to drink so early in the morning. But she was gone now, and her father obviously needed something to get through his pain.
    Mary said nothing as she observed the quiet household. She continued to stand and quietly cry. How could this be happening? Now, she must rely on her father to teach her how to become a young lady. Who would be there to comfort her when she was sick or to help Thomas when he had a scraped knee?
    Thomas returned with the preacher in tow. As plans were made for her mother, Mary was surprised to hear her mother would be buried in the church cemetery. Normally, the church cemetery was for people who could afford to purchase a plot and stone.
    Mary had no idea where the money came from to allow her mother to be buried at the church cemetery. She knew better than to ask her father about money matters. But she was very proud of the fact her mother could now have a tombstone. She would now be able to visit her in the beautiful cemetery not far from their cottage.
    T hey rarely attended church after her mother had taken ill and Mary had not met the new minister before he came to their cottage this morning. She thought the new minister looked nice enough. His eyes seemed kind, his hair had some gray and he was very soft spoken. He wore glasses that seemed too small for his head and he had a small scar on his chin. Mary wondered how he got it.
    “Mr. Ball, I’ll have the dates inscribed on the stone as we discussed earlier. Are you sure you wish the stone to read only the name of Mary Ball? The letter you gave me stated her parents wished to have her maiden name included on the stone.” the minister stated.
    “Aye, I ’m sure. They didn’t want anything to do with her while she lived and frankly I’m surprised they sent enough money to cover the burial. Jane wouldn’t have been happy if she’d known I’d written her parents, asking for money. Let’s leave things as they are. I don’t want to discuss this any further in front of the children.”
    Mary was confused . Her father had always told her their grandparents were all dead. She wondered why no one ever mentioned her mother’s parents were alive and why hadn’t they ever come to see her or Thomas.
    Mary knew h er grandparents on her father’s side had died long before Mary was born. Mary realized Thomas, her father and her aunt were the only family she had left, except now for her mother’s parents, which she’d just learned were still living. For reasons unknown, they were not to be a part of the arrangements.
    Before the Minister left, he told Mary and Thomas how sorry he was about their loss and he would see them tomorrow at the funeral service. The house again became eerily quiet.
    “Mary, why don’t you go to Miss Minnie’s shop and make her aware of your mother’s passing. She needs to know it’s finally over. Your mother has left us for a better place.”
    “Yes , Papa.”
    “Do you think you ’re able to fix the funeral meal by yourself? I’m not too good in the kitchen, as you know. But I think Miss Minnie might help, if you ask. You’ve managed so far by yourself and neither Thomas nor I’ve made too many complaints, now have we?”
    Mary