a's

gger sips of her coffee. Sophia was playing with a muffin she had bou

believe I'm ready to go back. I would

we had better wait a little. Allow you

ugged and the more time she was askin

ave done enough thinki

-sentence. Her hand went to her forehead and

ird how?" I asked, pre

bella, rocking in her

ophia said, but I could see the f

ecame slurred. Her eyes were heavy, and it w

ed across the table to shak

ng, and her head fell lightly o

ia, and looked around in con

all too much; the emotional cost of Marcus' death, it is too mu

my sister-in-law has fainted. Can you t

few minutes, Isabella was moved to a room down t

just stress and exhaustion. Let her sleep it

id gratefully. "We

ophia. "I need to go handle the cremation

't we wait until she wakes up? I thought

ows how important this is to me. Besi

e wanted to come with me, wanted to stop me from crem

ised, already heading for th

e. He looked up when I entered and I coul

nez! How are

. "I'm ready to procee

... but Isabella? I thought s

s my decision. She's resting now, a

e paperwork?" I as

ly. "Everything's been signed. Th

"Then let's go colle

his?" Dr. Parker asked one last t

ng his eyes. "I want my husba

for instructions. "Take him to the amb

e death certificate, but he couldn'

ust enough to sound genuine. "I... I need to take him now

brows shot up. "A

ad firmly. "Let's not

fortably, glancin

d, but I was already walking toward

my shoulder. "The crema

ambulance. He was still unconscious from whatever drug Dr

anced at it and each time it was either Isabella or Sophia. I g

proached us as we pulled up. "I'm Sarah Che

lences with a sad smile. "I appreciate you a

a schedule." She gestured toward

ion room and I looked around. This was whe

Mrs. Martinez?" S

g my hand on the stretcher. "

ss the button to

could you give me a few minutes alone wi

ke all the time you need. Press the green but

burst open, and Isabella's voice echoed throu

.." I heard what seemed like

" Isabella's voice was high-pitched, pan

urst into the preparation room. Isabella's face was flushed, her hair disheveled like she w

me. "I hope we're not too late. Where is

tly. "Too late for what? W

she looked around the room, her eyes scanning for where

on color my voice. "I'm cremating him. I

to soften her tone. "I mean... Elena, you're in shock. Y

am his wife and I will make the

l..." Soph

ol panel. "I've made my decision. This is what Mar

You can't! You can't burn him alive!" The words came

the control panel. The fire started in the chamber and Isabella and Sophia's

ease turn it off! She's burn

at the chamber door. "Please, Ele

ed. "The cremation

a screamed. "He's alive!

I burn someone alive when they're already dead? Are you saying Dr Parker lied to

ant... you can't burn him without prope

d to tell me the truth right n

he situation. "Elena, Isabella's just upset. She's n

bella still claw at the chamber door

's exactly what I meant. You can't burn so

ressed. "Why would you say he's

ting higher. "She's just grieving. It's just

rmed what I already knew. Marcus was still aliv

y. "I'm sorry. I'm not thinkin

pulling out Marcus' body. I signaled the security who had been watching the

pered, her voice brok

said keeping my face neutral. "You wer

out of the door but then I paused. "I chan