Viridian Tears by Rachel Green Read Free Book Online Page A

breast pocket, opened it and handed her a business card. “Appointments can be made during office hours.”
    “I want to see her now, though.”
    “I’m afraid she’s very busy.”
    “This’ll only take a minute or two.” She leaned forward until her lips were all but brushing the dark skin of his ear. “It’s about purchasing a plot.”
    “All the same, Madam.” He took her arm and steered her gently toward the exit. “You can either see Emily at reception about it or else make an appointment.”
    “Oh, very well.” She straightened her coat and joined the queue at the exit, shaking the hands of Helen’s three favorite people. “I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m sure she’s exactly where she wanted to be.” It was a white lie but it was what one said at a funeral. She leaned forward to brush the cheek of Helen’s widower. He smelled of Old Spice and pipe tobacco and brought a memory of her uncle Gareth before he ran off with the butcher’s wife. “My condolences.”
    “Wait.” He clutched at her hand. “You’re Meinwen, aren’t you? From Helen’s book club?”
    “That’s right. She’ll be sorely missed. “ Meinwen pressed his hand between hers. “We’ll read an excerpt from Great Expectations in her honor tonight.”
    “Yes. That was her favorite. I could never get on with it myself. All those lives ruined.”
    “There’s redemption at the end.”
    “So the vicar tells me.” He gave her a weak smile. “Look, Helen left you a bequest at the house. Nothing special, mind. A few books and a little award the council gave her when she retired last year. ‘Make sure they go to Meinwen,’ she said. It was very nearly her last words.”
    “What were her last words, may I ask?”
    “‘What are you doing with that hammer, Donall?’“ He gave a soft chuckle. “I’m only joking. Actually she sat up in bed and said ‘I’ll have a cup of tea and a biscuit’ and then she was gone. Just like that. She didn’t suffer at all.”
    “Well, that’s a blessing.” Meinwen freed his hands from her own. “I’ll drop by in a day or two to collect them.”
    “You do that, love. You’re not coming to the wake then?”
    “I think I’ve intruded enough, Mr. Matthews. I’ll leave you in the good care of your family. Besides, I don’t have any transport.”
    “Come on. There always room for one more in the hire cars.”
    “Next time, perhaps.” Meinwen squeezed his arm, mentally kicking herself for the phrase.
    The next time would probably be his own.
    She followed the wall of the building back around to the front passing, curiously, a small children’s playground. While the idea of a playground in a cemetery seemed a little odd, it made sense to keep the boredom of toddlers at bay when visiting deceased relatives. Children were generally more congenial to the idea of ‘talking to grandma’ when it involved a huge slide and roundabout. Meinwen had to exert considerable self-control not to go in herself.
    She pushed open the front door and stood for a moment in the reception area. It was tasteful, she had to admit. An area of comfortable seating around a coffee table, original paintings on the walls and a desk of Victorian origin, a huge piece of furniture almost as large as a modern child’s bedroom. It was covered by a piece of plate glass, beneath which was a hand-drawn plan of the entire cemetery.
    A small hand bell stood on one side to the desk. She rang it.
    A few moments passed before the inner door opened and a young woman came out. “May I help you?”
    “Emily, isn’t it?” Meinwen gave her a warm smile. “I’d like to speak to Mrs. Maguire, please.”
    “Do you have an appointment?”
    “No, but it will only take a moment.” Meinwen peered at the map. “It’s about this spot, here.”
    The woman frowned. “We haven’t marked that area for dispersal yet. There are no plots available.”
    “It’s not about a plot, as such. It’s a proposal for that section of the