Free Twisted by Jo Gibson

our only hope.”
    â€œAn appeal to his vanity by admitting that he was the only person who had the power to rescue us. Very good, Colleen. What else?”
    Colleen frowned. “What makes you think there was anything else?”
    â€œI know Danny. He wouldn’t have bought any of those other arguments. There was something else, wasn’t there? Something you’re not telling me?”
    â€œWell . . . yes.” Colleen nodded. “But it’s really not worth mentioning.”
    â€œI think you’d better tell me.”
    â€œOh . . . all right.” Colleen sighed deeply. “I promised him that we’d do his laundry and iron his shirts for the next four weeks.”
    Â 
    â€œDearly beloved, we are gathered here together to say our earthly good-byes to Tanya Rachael Ellison, beloved daughter of Virginia and Spencer Ellison.”
    The minister intoned the familiar words, and Amy shuddered. She could understand why Danny hated funerals. They were sad and depressing, and the funeral service reminded Amy that death was inevitable.
    â€œAre you okay?”
    Danny leaned close to whisper in Amy’s ear, and she nodded. The other girls were sitting near the front of the church, but Amy had waited for Danny to find a parking spot, and when he’d returned to the church on foot, they’d taken a pew in the rear. Amy felt a tap on her arm, and she turned to see that Danny was holding out his handkerchief.
    â€œThanks, but I’m not crying.” Amy leaned over to whisper in his ear.
    Danny reached out with the white linen square and gently blotted her cheeks. When he pulled his handkerchief away, Amy was amazed to see that it was wet with tears.
    â€œBut . . . I didn’t know I was crying.” Amy was embarrassed.
    â€œIt’s okay.” Danny reached out to squeeze her hand. “I’ve got tears in my eyes, too . . . and I hardly knew Tanya. That’s the reason I don’t like funerals.”
    Amy nodded. Danny was still holding her hand, and she didn’t even think of pulling away. It felt warm, and friendly, and very comforting. He held her hand through the rest of the service, and he didn’t let it go until the minister had spoken his final words and the formal church service had ended.
    The pallbearers, dressed in somber black suits, walked to the front of the church and surrounded Tanya’s casket. The organ was playing softly, and Amy leaned close to Danny again to speak softly in his ear. “Did Colleen tell you that we’re trying to spot Tanya’s mystery boyfriend?”
    â€œShe told me. That’s why I picked a spot in the back of the church. I’ve been here before, and the ushers always let the people in the front go out first. We’ll be able to see their faces when they pass us.”
    â€œGood thinking.” Amy nodded, and then she reacted to the rest of what Danny had said. “You’ve been in this church before ?”
    Danny nodded. “Yeah. I dated the former minister’s daughter. She used to drag me to service every Sunday to hear her father preach. I think she was trying to reform me, but it didn’t work.”
    â€œI see.” Amy nodded and stifled a grin. Everyone should have known that Danny couldn’t be reformed. She glanced at the front of the church again, and she realized that the pallbearers were lifting Tanya’s casket. “What are they doing?”
    â€œThey’re carrying the casket out to the hearse. Then they’ll drive it to the cemetery.”
    Amy nodded. She watched as the pallbearers picked up the casket and carried it slowly down the middle aisle of the church. When the casket passed their pew, Amy shuddered. She was glad that they’d closed it and she couldn’t see Tanya, but she had an almost overwhelming urge to jump to her feet and open the casket so that Tanya could breathe.
    â€œEasy, Amy.” Danny slipped his arm around her