Authors: Lisa Becker
The Click Trilogy (64 page)
After that, I hope I can get Renee to go straight home and get some sleep – she's been up all night – before we head over to the funeral home to deal with the next steps. I'll keep you posted as we know more about services.
From: Ashley Gordon – January 4, 2014 – 5:45 PM
To: PBCupLover, Shelley Manning, Mark Finlay
Subject: Re: Beyond sad
From: Shelley Manning – January 4, 2014 – 6:09 PM
To: PBCupLover
Subject: Re: Beyond sad
I'm booking a flight now. Don't worry about picking me up from the airport. I'll take a cab and I already have a key to your place (don't ask!) Give Renee all of my love and tell her I will be there as soon as possible.
From: PBCupLover – January 4, 2014 – 6:14 PM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Beyond sad
Thanks, Shelley. She needs you. Just call me when you land.
From: Mark Finlay – January 4, 2014 – 6:22 PM
To: PBCupLover, Ashley Gordon, Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Beyond sad
Oh, man! Tell Renee how sorry I am. Her dad was a great guy and will definitely be missed. I'm here for whatever you guys need. Just let me know.
From: PBCupLover – January 4, 2014 – 8:23 PM
To: Mark Finlay, Ashley Gordon, Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Beyond sad
Thanks, everyone. As you can imagine, Renee is just heartbroken….and exhausted…and eating a lot of frosting tubs. She is really appreciative of all of your emails, calls, offers to help, etc.. She's just not up for talking right now. I'm sure you all can understand. They are finalizing details of the service now and I'll let you know the details tomorrow.
From: Renee Greene – January 5, 2014– 12:02 AM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Awake?
Are you awake? I didn't want to call this late? Plus Ethan is sleeping and he thinks I am too.
From: Shelley Manning – January 5, 2014 – 12:07 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Awake
I'm here, Sweetie. And I'm on the first flight out tomorrow morning. I'm sorry. So, so sorry. Your dad was probably my favorite of all my friends' parents. I know he was your hero.
From: Renee Greene – January 5, 2014 – 12:09 AM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Awake
I'm lost, Shel. I'm completely lost.
From: Shelley Manning – January 5, 2014 – 12:11 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Awake
I can't imagine how your heart is hurting right now.
From: Renee Greene – January 5, 2014 – 12:17 AM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Awake
I'm trying to write a eulogy and I'm blocked. I write stuff for a living – news releases, bylined articles, marketing proposals, brochures, advertising copy, public service announcements, radio copy, mat columns, fact sheets, photo captions, media alerts, pitch letters, letters to the editor, video news releases, etc. Yet I just can't seem to do my dad justice.
From: Shelley Manning – January 5, 2014 – 12:22 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Awake
I know that writing is therapeutic for you, but I think you should try and get some sleep. You're likely exhausted and maybe inspiration will strike after you've gotten a bit of rest.
From: Renee Greene – January 5, 2014 – 12:41 AM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Awake
I'm sitting here with a tear on one cheek and a smile on the other as I think about him. How do you explain how important someone is when they have taught you everything…everything you know and everything that's important in life.
Sure, he taught me to walk and talk, ride a bike and factor equations in Algebra. But he taught me so much more like how to be a good and kind person, how to treat people with respect, how to act as a professional and how to have fun.
He totally got me and never made me apologize or compromise for being who I am. I don't think I ever told you this story. I was about 29 years old and my dad was golfing with a buddy and his buddy's friend. The friend was asking about me and my sister. When my dad explained that my sister was married and I was single, he offered to fix me up with is brother-in-law. He said he was a nice guy and very successful. "Your daughter will be very well taken care of." My dad responded, "My daughter doesn't need anyone to take care of her."
He totally understood me. I mean, really! How do you put that into words?!?
From: Shelley Manning – January 5, 2014 – 12:43 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Awake
You just did, Sweetie.
From: Renee Greene – January 5, 2014 – 12:49 AM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Awake
I guess I did. I just don't think this is enough to explain how amazing and important he is…was. I'm heartbroken just typing about him in the past tense. How do I Shelley: It's Ethan. Renee's a wreck. I just put her to bed. We'll see you tomorrow when you get here. Have a safe flight!
From: PBCupLover – January 5, 2014 – 11:31 AM
To: Mark Finlay, Ashley Gordon
Subject: Services
The funeral for Renee's dad will be on Wednesday at 10. We'll be sitting Shiva with her mom and sister until then, so feel free to come by her folks’ place if you want to. See you guys soon and thanks again for all of the support.
From: Shelley Manning – January 5, 2014 – 2:35 PM
To: Mark Finlay
Subject: Need a lift
I need a lift to Herb's funeral. Renee and Ethan are going early. Pick me up at 9.
From: Mark Finlay – January 5, 2014 – 2:36 PM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Need a lift
Please…
From: Shelley Manning – January 5, 2014 – 2:36 PM
To: Mark Finlay
Subject: Re: Need a lift
Oh, right. Please, Finlay.
From: Mark Finlay – January 5, 2014 – 2:38 PM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Need a lift
Just giving you a hard time. Haven't been able to do that for a while since you moved to Seattle.
From: Shelley Manning – January 5, 2014 – 2:40 PM
To: Mark Finlay
Subject: Re: Need a lift
You giving me a hard time? More like the other way around.
From: Mark Finlay – January 5, 2014 – 2:41 PM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Need a lift
I suppose so. I've missed that.
From: Shelley Manning – January 5, 2014 – 2:42 PM
To: Mark Finlay
Subject: Re: Need a lift
Me too. But if you tell anyone, I'll deny it.
From: Mark Finlay – January 5, 2014 – 2:43 PM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Need a lift
You just put it in writing. I have irrefutable proof.
From: Shelley Manning – January 5, 2014 – 2:45 PM
To: Mark Finlay
Subject: Re: Need a lift
You know how easy it is to hack a phone these days?
From: Mark Finlay – January 5, 2014 – 2:46 PM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Need a lift
I design cell phone games for a living, so yeah, I do.
From: Shelley Manning – January 5, 2014 – 2:49 PM
To: Mark Finlay
Subject: Re: Need a lift
Well then, there you go. How do you even know you aren't talking to Renee right now?
From: Mark Finlay – January 5, 2014 – 2:52 PM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Need a lift
You're the only one who calls me Finlay. At least you're calling me that now instead of Finnidy.
From: Shelley Manning – January 5, 2014 – 2:53 PM
To: Mark Finlay
Subject: Re: Need a lift
You knew about that?
From: Mark Finlay – January 5, 2014 – 2:53 PM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Need a lift
Yep.
From: Shelley Manning – January 5, 2014 – 2:54 PM
To: Mark Finlay
Subject: Re: Need a lift
You probably want an apology.
From: Mark Finlay – January 5, 2014 – 2:58 PM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Need a lift
We are all currently in the mindset that life is fleeting and we should tell the important people in our lives how we really feel about them. After all, you never know if it’s the last time we’ll ever talk to them.
From: Shelley Manning – January 5, 2014 – 3:00 PM
To: Mark Finlay
Subject: Re: Need a lift
Do you promise to delete this email after you read it?
From: Mark Finlay – January 5, 2014 – 3:00 PM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Need a lift
Sure.
From: Shelley Manning – January 5, 2014 – 3:01 PM
To: Mark Finlay
Subject: Re: Need a lift
Here goes. Finlay, you're not so bad. Now delete.
From: Mark Finlay – January 5, 2014 – 3:02 PM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Need a lift
Thanks, Shelley. See you soon.
From: Mark Finlay – January 5, 2014 – 3:04 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Fwd: Re: Need a lift
I'm giving Shelley a lift to your dad's service and figured you could use an emotional lift right about now. Read on.
From: Renee Greene – January 5, 2014 – 4:09 PM
To: Mark Finlay
Subject: Re: Fwd: Re: Need a lift
Thanks, Mark. That actually brought a brief smile to my face. I so appreciate everything. I'll see you soon.
From: Renee Greene – January 9, 2014 – 7:31 AM
To: Mark Finlay, Shelley Manning, Ashley Gordon
Subject: THANK YOU!
Thank you guys so very much for being there for me throughout this trying time. I'm so grateful for your friendship and support. You've always been with me through the good times and – what I thought at the time – bad times. But nothing can compare to this. I'm just gutted. Nothing can fill the void and probably never will.
But your friendship is certainly helping to ease this emptiness - not to mention the can of frosting that Mark brought. Extra gold star for you, my friend. I just want you to know how much you are all loved and appreciated.
From: Shelley Manning – January 9, 2014 – 8:45 AM
To: Renee Greene, Mark Finlay, Ashley Gordon
Subject: Re: THANK YOU!
Sweetie, it's nothing you wouldn't do for any of us. In fact, you would probably do more with that huge heart of yours. As for Finlay and his gift of frosting, stop being such a suck up!
From: Mark Finlay – January 9, 2014 – 10:02 AM
To: Renee Greene, Ashley Gordon, Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: THANK YOU!
There's this saying that your life is filled with balcony people and basement people. Balcony people bring you up and basement people pull you down. You're our penthouse, Renee. We're just repaying the favor.
From: Renee Greene – January 9, 2014 – 10:31 AM
To: Mark Finlay, Shelley Manning, Ashley Gordon