The black button was caught between Hannah’s fingers, with a narrow strip of navy fabric twisted beneath it.
I stopped beside the sofa with the white lilies still in my hand. Lorraine was moving a chair two inches to the left while one of the housekeepers checked the place cards.
“Put those by the window, Nathan,” Lorraine said. “The flowers should be where people can see them.”
I looked at Hannah’s hands again.
“Who arranged her like this?”
Lorraine straightened the cuff of her blouse.
“The hospital staff did what they could. We have enough to manage without picking apart every detail.”
Caleb stood near the mantel with his hands in his pockets. He looked at the lilies, then at me.
“Brother, you just got home.”
“I know.”
“You should sit down.”
I set the lilies on the side table. One stem rolled against the vase and stopped.
Hannah would have straightened it.
I reached toward it, then stopped when I saw the black button again.
“Why is there a button in her hand?”
Neither of them answered.
One of the housekeepers lowered her eyes and began gathering the folded programs from the coffee table.
Lorraine moved closer.
“Nathan, this is not the time.”
“It is exactly the time.”
Caleb took one step forward.
“What are you thinking?”
I rubbed the edge of my wedding ring with my thumb.
“I am asking a simple question.”
Caleb looked toward Lorraine before answering.
“Maybe it came loose from something she was wearing.”
Hannah was wearing a pale blue dress.
I looked at his jacket. Navy wool. Three buttons visible.
One was missing.
“Where did you get that jacket?”
Caleb glanced down.
“This?”
“Yes.”
“I have had it for years.”
Lorraine picked up a stack of cards and squared their edges against the table.
“Nathan, please.”
I bent beside Hannah and looked at the fabric caught under her fingers. It was no wider than my thumb.
I did not pull it free.
The housekeeper closest to me asked, “Should I call the funeral director?”
Lorraine answered before I could.
“Not yet.”
Then she looked at me.
“Your brother can take care of the flowers.”
