God help her, why were there so many people? Most of the pews were filled. Up front was the dark cherry casket Matt had chosen. She’d gone with him to be supportive and agreed on the style while barely sparing a glance. Vases of flowers had been set on either side and in front of a podium. Lucy, Matt and Rachel had driven together and were already seated in the first pew. Nikki took a deep breath and pulled her shoulders back, ready to make her way down the aisle when she saw the portrait of Wallace. Taken when he was a much younger man, the blown-up head shot sat on an easel to the right of the casket. That was it for her. She couldn’t seem to make her feet move. Vaguely she recalled Matt and Lucy discussing which picture to use, but Nikki hadn’t seen it. Not this one, anyway. Her mom had once had a similar photo. She’d kept it in a silver frame she polished every day, sitting on a nightstand in the shabby bedroom she’d shared with Nikki.
