Beyond the Altar

everyone here. Now they were here for him. I sat in the front pew, my fiancé David Vance beside me, his hand on my

ty, colder than I remembered. Dad's ashes were in an urn on the altar. I needed to be near him. Davi

en by shadows and pulled-down hats. They moved fast. One grabbed me, hand clamped over my mouth. Another kicked

" one hissed, his breath sour. "Or h

cold. I stop

s urn while they... while they did things. Each minute was a separate, sharp horror. When they finally left, just before dawn, they th

l media. Text messages. Whispers. My phone blew up,

d. His voic

t. The wedding

kay. He just said he cou

ter, the one Dad had been so proud I'd gotten, was

ollapsed. The doctor said her heart just gave out from the shock, the grief. Sh

r brother, stood a little apart from the other mourners. He owned Vance Construction, t

me. His eyes were k

edy. What happened to you, to y

dkerchief. I hadn't r

id. "Oakhaven... it's a small town. People

the words I n

n give you a safe plac

No family left. No fiancé. No job. N

ispered. "Y

ke someone had thrown me a rope.

d. Michael was often busy, late nights, business trips. He was respected in Oak

alled, voice th

. Local Pour. Too

ichael at a corner table with a man I vaguely recognized,

ly with his drink. "David's little angel. So pure. Had

ent, a bit of a rival to the Vances. I'd seen her aroun

, the video... all my idea. Best way to get rid of her. David would

ta keep 'em circulating. Keeps her in line. My little,

The floor seemed to tilt. My savior. My husband. He

linding. I stumbled onto the dark street, gasping for air. Sudden

re," one slurred, grabbing my arm

t felt like the ch

ched to a halt. Michael. He j

ds off my wif

He shoved one man back, punched the

sounded genuinely concerned, his voice soft. He was playing the hero. Again. He