No one from the family was here yet, but they would arrive soon. Close family members often arrived before the visitation to prepare and have private time with the deceased. There’d be an open casket today. Everyone would see Chloe in her restful slumber. I cringed thinking about what she must look like dead. Although, the work Millie and the guys did was so good, I swore some of the bodies looked like they’d wake up and talk. Imagining Chloe’s posed corpse gave me the heebie jeebies. I moved past the viewing room door without peeking. The “cookies and mourning” tables—what I call the break area folks went to have a snack, and sometimes, a good cry—were empty. I went to the office to offer help, even though Garrett might still be mad at me for earlier. Surely, we could put aside our differences long enough to help Chloe’s family say goodbye. Ryder whistled through his teeth. “You clean up nice, Mattie.” “Thanks.” I blushed. Garrett looked up from his computer and smiled.
