Celeste didn't think the day would end like this, with another blow to their hearts and another reason to be enraged by a parent figure who was inconsiderate. Or heartless at best.
When Celeste looked at Avond's face, when Bianca stepped into that funeral room, Celeste saw what it did to him. It shattered him. The pain was clearly written there as if he was feeling something physical.
His words were close to breaking each time, and yet he held it together. So stressed and tired that he missed such an important day—the funeral of his mother.
Celeste couldn't help but think that if only Erickson had shown his sons enough grace to have come alone, Avond could have held it together until the last moment.
But no.
And now it was so much worse than it had been in the beginning. It hadn't been a day since they buried Nirmala, her belongings still in her bedroom untouched, but Erickson had brought in her replacement already. Someone who had no shame, was entitled, and was comfortable.
