Tears rolled down Letisha's cheek and stained her black lace dress. She stood before the casket that held the remains of her husband, Raymond.
"I just don't understand weeks have passed since he was murdered, the police initially followed strong leads in the case, but everything has gone cold. Raymond, I feel I have let you down. I should fight for you." Letisha muttered as she fixed the knot of Raymond's tie.
The walnut stained coffin glistened in the light of the small church. Letisha dried her tears with a small piece of hand towel and turned around. Letisha gasped at the scene behind her as the church was packed to capacity. The congregation was clad in cheerful colours just like she had asked, but her own dress reflected her mood and thoughts. She had been robbed of her soulmate and friend. Raymond's friends were all standing chit chatting, but the chatter in the hall suddenly stopped and became hushed as if an angel had entered.
Colin Small walked confidently up the aisle with a solemn look on his face. Letisha knitted her brow. The President is here? Letisha pinched herself to dispel disbelief. Letisha watched him shake a few hands, but he didn't stop. His eyes became focused on her. As he approached Letisha felt the urge to panic. It was the first time in her life Letisha was in such close proximity to someone so auspicious. Small was tall and handsome in person. Letisha felt as if she was lifted off the ground in his presence. Letisha became confused, she didn't know if she should bow of genuflect in his presence. He took her hand and held it between his two palms.
Letisha blushed as the cameras flashed. Small smiled big and the church hall lit up.
"Letisha, I am not here as the President, today I am just a neighbour who wants to share in your moment. However, I can assure you that despite what the investigators have told you. I will leave no stones unturned, and I will bring the full weight of my office on the perpetrator and any of his connections to justice."
Small spoke softly as if he and Letisha were the only people in the entire world.
At least that was how Letisha felt.
Oh god his skin is so smooth, no pimples or blemishes and his shoulders are so broad. She inhaled deeply, his cologne and breath were so sweet. Letisha thought for a second or two.
Small leaned forward and kissed her on her left cheek and Letisha Brown could not help the blush and she gushed. For an instant her tears dried up. President Colin Small sat beside Letisha during the service and Letisha cried but leaned on the President's strong shoulders even leaving a tear or two.
The service was quite short at forty-five minutes, not because Raymond wasn't a church goer, but because Raymond believed that preaching over a corpse wasn't going to get the soul into heaven.
As Letisha and President walked behind the casket that was draped in the flag of the St. Barts Press Association, President Small stopped and turned towards Letisha.
"Letisha I would like to invite you to dinner at the Presidential Residence tonight with my family and I."
Letisha was spell bound by the deep concern that his eyes reflected. She fumbled and struggled to find the words to reply.
"President Small I didn't vote for you the last time," Letisha blurted out.
Colin Small laughed heartily along with a few curious ears that heard her reply.
"That's fine, just say yes to dinner. It's the least I can do," Colin replied.
Letisha felt slightly embarrassed about her confession and nodded in response.
"Great. I will send my drive for you at 7p. m."
Colin flashed a pleasant smile and lifted her hand and lightly kissed it. The cameras flashed again.
Wow, he is so charming. I always thought he was arrogant and brash. Letisha thought.
"Psst, at least bury me before you start dating again," Letisha heard Raymond's voice in her head. She chuckled.
The light moment disappeared quickly as Letisha tried to focus on the flag draped casket and not on the President who had just waved to the congregation as he departed.
Hope, light and darkness fought hard in Letisha's heart. It was a sad occasion, but President Small offered some amount of hope. His personal touch that he came down from the seat of power to sit beside a teacher while she grieved meant something. Besides he smelled good. Letisha closed her eyes for a second and she could still feel his soft lips on her cheek and the manly feel of his broad shoulders against her.
I wonderif Mrs. Small realises what she has in that man? Letisha wondered about the fairness of life then she remembered she had no husband anymore. She started to bawl as she watched the coffin being placed in the hearse. Knowing that it was the last time she would see him hit her hard. Raymond wanted to be cremated, and his ashes were to be sprinkled in the harbour.
There was a tug of war in Letisha's mind. Part of her wanted to scream, but she had been lady like, because in a few hours she would be representing the voiceless people at a dinner on the hill at the President's invitation. Letisha thought of the dress that she wanted to wear, and the tears started to dry up.
Something fitted, that showed off the contours and the geography of a woman in her prime that wanted revenge for her husband. She wiped her cheek with vigour knowing that for an instant the charm of the man that virtually killed soulmate, almost swept her off her feet.