He unfolded the paper.
“It says, ‘Theo, if you’re reading this because I died, first of all, that’s embarrassing for me.'”
A ripple of laughter passed through the room.
Real laughter.
Painful, but real.
That sounded exactly like Jack.
Theo kept reading.
“‘Second, you promised. Red dress. Don’t chicken out just because my relatives are judgmental.'”
Daniel made a sound beside me that was half sob, half laugh.
Theo looked toward Daniel’s brother.
A few people laughed harder.
Then Theo’s face changed.
“‘Third, don’t let my funeral be the first time you lie to me just because I’m not there to call you out.'”
Theo lowered the paper.
“I almost didn’t come.”
I looked at him.
He said, “My dad told me not to wear it. My mom said people would misunderstand. My sister told me I was insane.”
Then he glanced down. “But she gave me the dress anyway.”
