THE FALLOUT: THE CARTER FAMILY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: Dec 11th -Arrangements (Part 1)
A family tries to plan a funeral and ends up detonating every secret, betrayal, and unspoken resentment in the room.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9TH - 8:47 AM
The group text had been silent since Sunday night at the morgue. Then Bobby sent one message:
Tomorrow. 10 AM. Ferguson Funeral Home on Van Buren.
Fifteen minutes passed.
Wallace: Can't do 10. Make it 2.
Bella: I can't do 2. Billy has a thing.
Wanda: What thing? School's out.
Bella: A thing. Can we do Thursday?
Bobby: Thursday? They died SUNDAY.
Wallace: We know when they died Bobby
Bobby: Then act like it
Nobody responded for three hours.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10TH - 11:23 AM
Wallace: Wednesday works for me. 11 AM.
Wanda: I need to talk to Chloe first
Bobby: Talk to Chloe about what? This is about Mom and Dad
Wanda: She's part of my life Bobby
Bobby: Since fucking when
Wallace: Don't start
Bobby: I'm not starting anything. I'm trying to bury our parents and everyone's got excuses
Bella: We're not making excuses
Bobby: Then SHOW UP
Silence again. This time for six hours.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10TH - 5:47 PM
Bella: Wednesday 11 AM works. I'll be there.
Wallace: Same
Wanda: Fine
Bobby: Ferguson Funeral Home. Van Buren. Don't be late.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11TH - 10:58 AM
Ferguson Funeral Home sat on a quiet corner of Van Buren, brick facade, white columns, the kind of place that promised dignity and professionalism. Inside, the air smelled like lilies and lemon furniture polish. Soft music played from hidden speakers. Everything designed to make grief feel manageable.
Bobby arrived first. Stood in the parking lot watching cars pull in one by one.
Bella's car. Wallace's car. Wanda's car.
Then the others.
Barbara pulled up in her SUV, eyes red behind sunglasses. Wynona arrived in Wallace's passenger seat, staring straight ahead. William came separately, ten minutes late, looking like he hadn't slept since Thanksgiving.
Then two more cars. Julian. Chloe.
Bobby watched Wallace get out and walk to Julian's car. Watched them exchange words Bobby couldn't hear. Watched Wanda do the same with Chloe.
Nine people.
This was going to be a disaster.
Inside, they gathered in a consultation room. Long table, eight chairs. Someone had to stand. Mr. Ferguson, the funeral director, sat at the head wearing a navy suit and an expression of professional sympathy that probably worked on normal families.
The Carters were not a normal family.
Bobby and Barbara sat together. Bella alone. Wallace next to Julian. Wanda next to Chloe. Wynona and William on opposite ends like bookends of dysfunction.
Mr. Ferguson opened a leather folder. "First, let me offer my deepest condolences for your loss. I know this is an incredibly difficult time."
Nobody responded.
"I've prepared some options for you to consider. We'll need to make decisions about the service, the casket, music selections, obituary details, and of course the viewing arrangements."
Wallace shifted in his seat. Julian's hand moved to his knee under the table.
Wynona saw it. Her jaw tightened.
Mr. Ferguson continued. "Many families find it helpful to start with the casket selection. I can show you our showroom, or if you'd prefer, I have a catalog here with pricing and options."
"Showroom," Bobby said.
"Catalog," Bella said at the same time.
They looked at each other.
"We should see them in person," Bobby said. "This isn't something you pick from a catalog."
"Why not?" Bella shot back. "A casket's a casket."
"A casket is NOT just a casket, Bella."
"It's a box they put in the ground, Bobby. It doesn't matter."
"It DOES matter. Everything matters."
Mr. Ferguson cleared his throat gently. "Perhaps we could look at both? The catalog gives you pricing, and then we can view specific options in person."
Before anyone could respond, Barbara spoke. "You know what this reminds me of?"
The room went silent.
Barbara gave a small, nervous laugh. "Thanksgiving. Remember? We couldn't even agree on potato salad."
The joke landed like a grenade.
Nobody laughed.
Bella's eyes went cold. "Potato salad."
"I just meant..." Barbara trailed off, realizing her mistake.
"You meant what, Barbara?" Bella's voice was razor sharp. "That this is funny? That our parents dying is somehow the same as your fucked up potato salad?"
"I didn't say that."
"You literally just compared planning our parents' funeral to Thanksgiving."
"I was trying to lighten the mood."
"There is no mood to lighten!" Bella's voice cracked. "They're DEAD, Barbara. Dead. There's nothing light about this."
Bobby put his hand on Barbara's arm. "Babe, maybe don't."
"Don't what?" Barbara pulled her arm away. "Don't try to help? Don't be here? Because I showed up, Bobby. I showed up to Thanksgiving. I'm showing up now. Which is more than some people can say."
Her eyes flicked to Wallace and Wanda.
Wallace leaned forward. "And what the fuck is that supposed to mean?"
"It means exactly what it sounds like."
"Say it then. Stop hiding behind little comments and say what you actually mean."
Barbara's face flushed. "Fine. You two didn't show up to Thanksgiving. You left me and Wynona and William sitting at that table with your parents while you were off doing... whatever. So maybe don't act like you're the only ones grieving here."
"Off doing whatever?" Wanda's voice was ice. "You mean living our lives? Being honest for once?"
"Honest?" William spoke for the first time, his voice hollow. "You call that honest?"
Chloe stiffened next to Wanda. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
"William." Mr. Ferguson tried to intervene. "Perhaps we should take a moment to..."
"A moment to what?" William stood up. "Pretend this is normal? Pretend I'm not sitting here watching my wife hold hands with another woman while we plan a funeral?"
"Ex-wife," Wanda said quietly.
"We're not divorced yet."
"We will be."
"Jesus Christ." Wynona's voice broke. She'd been silent until now, but the dam finally cracked. "Can we just... can we just focus on Brenda and Willis for five minutes? Can we do that? Can we make this about THEM and not about all of you and your... your shit?"
Julian shifted uncomfortably. "Maybe I should wait outside."
"No." Wallace grabbed his hand. "You're staying. You're part of my life and you're staying."
"Part of your life for what, two weeks?" Wynona's laugh was bitter. "And now he gets to sit here while we bury your parents? While I sit here like an idiot after twelve years of marriage?"
"Wynona..."
"Don't. Don't you dare try to make this okay."
Bella rubbed her temples. "Can we please just pick a fucking casket?"
"Where's Brad?" William asked suddenly. "If we're all supposed to be here with our... partners... where the hell is Brad?"
The room went silent again.
Bella's face went blank. "Brad's not here."
"I can see that. Why not?"
"Because he's in jail, William. He got arrested. Remember? At Thanksgiving? Or were you too busy being humiliated to notice?"
"Don't put that on me."
"I'm not putting anything on you. I'm stating a fact. My husband is in federal custody for embezzlement. So no, he's not here. And honestly? I'm glad. One less person to fight with."
Bobby spoke quietly. "He called me."
Everyone turned.
"Who called you?" Bella asked.
"Brad. From jail. Yesterday. Asked if I could post bail."
"What did you tell him?"
"I told him no."
Bella's eyes filled with tears. "Good."
Barbara touched Bobby's shoulder. "You didn't tell me that."
"I'm telling you now."
"What else haven't you told me?"
"Barbara, not now."
"When, Bobby? When is the right time? Because you don't talk to me. You don't tell me anything. You just drink and ignore my calls and..."
"My parents are DEAD!" Bobby's voice cracked the room open. "My parents are dead and I'm the one who had to identify their bodies. I'm the one who had to tell everyone. I'm the one who... who..."
He couldn't finish.
Brandon appeared in the doorway. He'd been in the waiting room with Billy. "Dad?"
Bobby wiped his eyes fast. "I'm okay, buddy. Go back out there."
"But..."
"Go."
Brandon left.
Mr. Ferguson tried again. "Why don't we start with something simple? The obituary. What would you like it to say about Brenda and Willis?"
Silence.
"They were good people," Bella finally said. "They loved their family."
"Even when their family didn't love them back," Wallace added, his voice hollow.
"Don't." Bobby's voice was a warning. "Don't you dare make this about guilt."
"Why not? Isn't that what this is? All of us sitting here drowning in it?"
"We're here to make arrangements."
"We're here because they died coming to YOUR house, Bobby."
The room froze.
Bobby's face went white. "What?"
Wallace leaned back in his chair. "You heard me. The police said they were on I-10 heading west. Toward your place. They were coming to see you when they crashed."
"How do you..."
"I talked to the officer. Asked where they were going. He said based on the route, probably your neighborhood."
Bobby's hands shook. "They... they were coming to me?"
"Yeah. They were. So maybe that's why you're so desperate to make everything perfect. Because you know this is on you."
"FUCK YOU, Wallace."
"Fuck ME? You're the one who stopped answering their calls! You're the one who..."
"I KNOW!" Bobby's voice shattered. "I know, okay? I know they were trying to reach me. I know I didn't answer. I know they died trying to see me. I KNOW. So don't sit there and act like you're telling me something I don't already fucking know!"
Julian cleared his throat. "Maybe we should..."
"Should what?" Bobby turned on him. "You don't even know us. You've been around for what, two weeks? And now you're here planning my parents' funeral?"
"Bobby." Wallace's voice was a warning.
"No, it's a legitimate question. Who the fuck is he to be here?"
Julian stood up slowly. "I'm here because Wallace asked me to be here. Because he needed support. But if my being here makes this harder, I can leave."
"That would be great, actually."
"Bobby!" Bella snapped. "Stop it."
"Why? Why should I stop? We're all thinking it. Julian doesn't belong here. Chloe doesn't belong here. This is family business."
Chloe spoke for the first time, her voice calm but firm. "Wanda is my family."
"You've known her for three weeks."
"And you've ignored her for longer than that."
The room went dead silent.
Wanda stared at Chloe, eyes wide. Barbara's mouth fell open. William's face turned red.
Bobby laughed, bitter and sharp. "Oh, so now we're getting relationship advice from the woman who broke up a marriage?"
"I didn't break up anything," Chloe said evenly. "Your sister was already broken when I met her."
"Don't." Wanda's voice shook. "Don't speak for me."
"I'm not speaking for you. I'm speaking to him. Because someone needs to tell him that not everything is about him and his guilt."
Bobby stood up. "Get out."
"Bobby..." Mr. Ferguson tried to intervene.
"I said get OUT."
"Make me."
Wallace shot to his feet. "Don't talk to her like that."
"I'm not talking to you, I'm talking to your boyfriend's new friend who thinks she can walk into OUR family and..."
"ENOUGH!" Mr. Ferguson's voice cut through the chaos. "Everyone, please. This is getting out of hand. Perhaps we should take a moment. A moment of silence. We can pray together, center ourselves, and..."
"Pray?" Wynona's laugh was hysterical. "You want us to PRAY? Now?"
"I just think a moment of reflection might help..."
"If we're gonna pray," William said, his voice shaking with rage, "we need to pray for that son of a bitch who walked out on his family."
Everything stopped.
Wanda turned slowly. "What did you just say?"
"You heard me."
"Say it again. I want everyone to hear it."
"You walked out. You're a selfish, lying..."
Wanda lunged across the table. Chloe grabbed her. Julian jumped between Wallace and William. Bobby pushed back from the table, knocking his chair over. Barbara screamed. Wynona started crying.
Mr. Ferguson's phone rang. "I... I need to take this. Please, everyone just... just wait here."
He fled the room.
No one waited.
"You don't get to call her that!" Chloe shouted at William as Wanda shook in her arms.
"I'll call her whatever I want! She's MY wife!"
"EX-wife!" Wanda screamed back. "We're DONE, William! We've been done!"
"Because of HER!" William pointed at Chloe. "Because you couldn't keep your legs closed!"
Wallace moved toward him. "Say that again."
"Your sister is a fucking..."
Wallace's fist connected with William's jaw before anyone could stop him. William stumbled back, hit the wall, came back swinging. Julian tried to pull Wallace away. Bobby grabbed William.
"STOP IT!" Bella screamed. "STOP!"
But no one stopped.
Barbara grabbed her purse. "I'm leaving. Bobby, I'm leaving. Are you coming or not?"
Bobby didn't answer. He was still holding William back.
Barbara walked out.
Wynona stood, crying, looking at Wallace. "Twelve years. Twelve years and this is how it ends?"
Julian released Wallace, stepped back. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come."
"No." Wallace's voice cracked. "You should. You're the only honest thing here."
Wynona's face crumpled. She walked out.
Chloe pulled Wanda toward the door. "We're going. Now."
William lunged after them. "Don't you walk away from me! Don't you fucking walk away!"
Bobby blocked him. "Let them go."
"Get off me!"
"I said LET THEM GO!"
William shoved Bobby. Bobby shoved back. William stumbled into the doorframe.
"You're all fucking crazy!" William shouted as he staggered out. "All of you! Your whole goddamn family!"
His voice echoed down the hallway.
Bella stood frozen in the corner, arms wrapped around herself. "This is what we've become."
Wallace sank into his chair, head in his hands. Julian stood behind him, not touching.
Bobby righted his fallen chair slowly, mechanically.
The door opened. Brandon and Billy stood there, eyes wide, scared.
"Dad?" Brandon whispered. "Can we go home?"
Bobby nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, we can go home."
He walked out without looking at Wallace or Bella.
Julian touched Wallace's shoulder. "Come on. Let's get out of here."
They left together.
Bella looked at the empty room. The overturned chair. Mr. Ferguson's abandoned folder. "Fuck."
She walked out, leaving Billy standing in the doorway alone until she called him from the parking lot.
Five minutes later, Mr. Ferguson returned, phone still in his hand. He opened the consultation room door.
Empty.
Chairs pushed back. One on its side. His folder still open on the table.
"I have some brochures and pricing here for..." His voice trailed off.
The room was silent except for the soft music still playing from hidden speakers.
He picked up his folder. Straightened the knocked-over chair. Looked at his notes.
Carter family. Arrangements for Brenda and Willis Carter. Services TBD.
He added a note at the bottom: Reschedule. Family needs time.
Then he closed the folder and walked out, turning off the lights behind him.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12TH - 9:34 AM
The group text lit up.
Bobby: We're not doing this in person again
Bella: Agreed
Wallace: FaceTime?
Wanda: Fine
Bobby: Wednesday Dec 18. 7 PM. Just us. No one else.
Wallace: Just us
Bella: I'll be there
Wanda: Me too
The chat went silent.
Four siblings. One week. And a funeral that still needed planning.
END PART 7 (Part 1)
