Her name was June Heath. She was a few years older than Runa and going to school in Cleveland. Sable Weihl Reis was her Great Aunt. Sable was the curator for the town's history museum. Everyone in town knew who she was.

Sable's sister was June's grandmother and a prominent member of the old city council years ago. June was studying for a marketing degree at a community college. A lot of people knew her but Runa did not.

Sable stood in front of the coffin with people that Runa could only assume were family members. The man and woman with her were June's parents. Several others crowded in around them and were apparently extended family.

There was a rumor going around that June had not spoken to her mother in almost a year. Apparently they didn't have a good relationship. Runa tried to imagine what that would be like. That would make this even harder to deal with.

Runa did recognize other people from town who were there to support them. There was her doctor; Dr. Eleanor Ravensdale. She was the local family doctor whom everyone in town went to see. Runa was sure that Eleanor had been June's family doctor. She was everyone's doctor here. 'Poppy' or Paul senior was with her. He was her husband and a doctor too but, he was retired now. Runa used to see him when she was little.

Sable and 'Ellie' were the leaders of an elite Ladies' book club. It was not actually a secret club but, no one talked openly about it. Only very few ladies in town were members and no one outside the club knew much more than that.

The Mayor was in attendance too. His name is Michael Bismark. Margaret Bismark was there too. She is the mayor's sister. She is about seven years younger than her brother which would make her 55.

Michael Bismark had been mayor for many years now. The people in town adored him, except for Sable. Her family, the Weihls hated the Bismarks. The Bismark family swept into town years ago and usurped power away from the Weihls, who had run the town since World War II, at least.

Penelope Saunter who is Mendalie's mother was there with Runa and Mendalie. George, her husband had to stay at the store or he would have been there.

A lady named Betty Chapel who owns a cupcake shop was there as well as Kay Wilkes, the high school secretary, Valarie Compton who works at the coffee shop, Jade King from the city Recreation department, Sylvan Raines, a local artist with a studio in town, Angel Hart who is a librarian and Katherine Paige, another young woman who currently does hair at a local salon. Runa saw her boss from the Animal Clinic, Marie Hunter there too.

Ava Madison who is married to Bill Madison, a wealthy landowner was also there. She is Sable's cousin and the town gossip.

Most people had already come to calling hoursand it would have seemed strange to have all those women at the cemetery. But Runaknew or at least suspected that they were the members of the Ladies' Book Club.They were there to support Sable and her family. Runa knew about them becauseof her boss.