My father stayed at the office until the reporters descended on him. He told them everything. Everything. Then he left us there at the office for hours. He drove off and would never say where he went. I will always wonder if he had a secret place to be alone –– an acre under a green sky of his own –– apart from the office.
My father and grandfather buried Luka two days later. My mother would not attend the funeral. I alone in our family went with my father and grandfather to Luka's funeral. Billy Kiernan was there with Gladys Mulley. And Joe Scarceletti was there. There were maybe six other mourners –– people I didn't know by name. And lots of reporters and photographers.
It was during a prayer when all heads were bowed that I looked up at my father and said, "Nobody's crying."
"Sometimes you just cry in your heart, "he said.
Luka was buried near Gwen and Marilyn and Jeff and Estelle. His tombstone read simply:
CHARLES GORDON LUKA
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