Daniel leaned forward.
“If he says something inappropriate, I’m stopping him.”
“Please don’t do anything you’ll regret.”
“I’m trying to understand what is happening.”
“So am I.”
Theo reached the microphone and adjusted it.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he looked at the coffin.
“Hi, Jack.”
His voice cracked on the second word.
He swallowed and tried again.
“Okay. I had seven pages of notes prepared for this. Seven. Which is ridiculous because Jack couldn’t sit through a five-minute presentation without making faces at me.”
A few people laughed softly.
Theo smiled.
“I was going to talk about how we met, all the trouble we got into, and how he was the most annoying person I’ve ever known.”
He glanced at me.
“Sorry, Mrs. Harris. But you know it’s true.”
For the first time that morning, I almost smiled.
“Yes,” I whispered. “I know.”
Theo took a breath.
