The workers were experienced since they had to cope with the tombstone every day, so they were clear about it at a glance.
Joseph frowned tightly, and he had expected it was an empty tomb, but he hadn't expected that it had been an empty tomb for more than ten years.
Steven was indignant after hearing this. "It must be Henry! It must be Henry who took Rachel's ash away." It was the first thought that came to his mind.
Mary also began to scold Henry, but then she began to suspect whether the remains of Henry and Rachel had been taken away by Shirley.
Joseph was calm, and then he said calmly, "It has nothing to do with Henry. It's Isabel."
"What?" Steven and Mary were so shocked.
Cassie was also startled and shook her head hesitantly, "How could it be possible? It has been an empty tomb for more than ten years."
"A young teenager of seventeen years old has enough capability to do this." Joseph's eyes were dreary.
Ten years ago, Irish was still a teenager, but she was almost an adult at that age, so it was not a surprise that she would take away her mother's ashes.
Mary was still mumbling, "It is impossible. It is impossible....."
But Joseph kept silent.
The reason why he would suspect it was an empty tomb was that he recalled the scene when Irish stood there on Christmas day. It was her birthday. He also had known Irish for a long time, but she never mentioned this place to him. Later, he knew that she only came here once a year.
So why did she only come here to visit her dead mother once every year since she missed her so much, but only came here on her birthday as if she was fulfilling a task?
What's more, why didn't she show up on such an important occasion?
No, it was an empty tomb that could indicate that Irish had known this before. She came here so as to cast a mist before their eyes.
"Is there another graveyard for her mother?" Cassie asked hesitantly.
Joseph stood up abruptly, patting the dust in his hands, and said, after thinking for a while, "No, I think the remains may have been placed at a funeral home."
It was a reasonable inference.
He knew how many cemeteries there were in New York, and he was also clear about how far each cemetery was from the downtown area. Irish had been with him for a long time, and if Rachel's ashes had been transferred to another cemetery, it would have cost Irish a long time to visit her mom. She didn't have much time, but she had to ensure that she could visit at any time, so the best place to put her mom's remains was in the funeral home.
But why did she do this?
Joseph suddenly enlightened. Perhaps she had planned to bury Rachel with Henry after his death for a long time.
Thinking of this, he had to admit that she was a thoughtful woman. He thought she was a woman who had never made a plan for tomorrow before, but now it turned out that she advanced gradually and entrenched herself at every step, and she could make a plan for more than ten years.
"Do we need to find her in the funeral home one by one?" Jordan, who had kept silent for a long time, finally asked. He rarely came to the cemetery and didn't know the rules. He had only paid homage to his parents as well as Jenny.
Joseph was silent for a while and then said hesitantly, "Or will she put the remains in the temple?"
"Temple?" Mary was shocked and confused by his words.
Joseph turned to Steven and asked, "Did Aunt Rachel have religious beliefs?"
Steven was stunned, but soon he nodded and replied, "Yes, she believed in Buddhism, and she would go to the temple to worship the Buddha. And she also did many good deeds before."
Joseph nodded and then overthrew his previous judgment. "Then the ashes may be placed at a temple." The temple in New York City was much closer than the cemetery to the downtown area, so it was convenient for Irish to worship.
He remembered that Irish had mentioned to him before that her mother loved red sandalwood very much, and it could be made into exquisite Buddha beads. Joseph was curious how she knew it while Irish told him that it was her Uncle Steven who told her that.
He just recalled her words and then got the analysis. Now it turned out that her mom really believed in Buddhism.
"What are we going to do next?" Steven was anxious.
When Joseph was about to reply to him, his phone rang.
"Hello, Mr. Want."
But soon, Joseph changed his expression and looked grave.
All of them focused on him since they were afraid to get bad news. But then Joseph replied after Mr. Want finished his words, "Okay. I got it. Thank you, Mr. Want. I'll visit you another day."
It was in Lake Michigan, Chicago.
When the setting sun was falling, the lake was full of shining ripples that reflected the bright red light of the sunset. There were not so many people traveling here in this season, so it was much more tranquil than in the high season.
The boat was drifting on the red-stained lake while the boatman sighed with feelings, "Nowadays, people all enjoy the tranquil Lake Michigan."
But he soon kept silent when he didn't get a response from the girl in his boat, and the boat slowly went to the depths.
Irish sat at the stern while her eyes looked so dreary. The sunset not only dyed the lake but also reddened her eyes. The boatman focused on paddling the boat, and his back was thin and shadowy.
When there was no boat shadow around, she opened the white porcelain urn and tilted it slightly while the ash in the altar was sprinkled slowly into the lake. The white ash soon dissipated in the lake.
She was in deep sorrow and leaned on the boat.
Mom, he finally realized his promise to you.