When she was alive, Catherine O’Keefe never imagined that one day she could watch her own funeral. She was strolling by the lake when she noticed Oliver sitting on the stone bench near the Magic Tree. She had chosen that name for the large magnolia shortly after arriving in Heaven, when Oliver had pushed back some branches and let her watch what was happening on earth. He had done it a few times since, but only let her see events he chose.

“What are you watching?” she asked as she approached him.

“Nothing.” He let go of the tree branch, and it snapped back into place with a shudder of shiny dark-green leaves.

Catherine had been quick, though, and caught a glimpse. “Oh my gosh, those are my kids! You’re watching my funeral? Oh, Oliver, you have to let me watch.”

“Actually,” he said, “I’m watching two funerals.”

“Whose is the second one?”

“His name is David. You’ll meet him soon. He died on the same day you did. And at the same hospital, as a matter of fact.”

“Good. Now that we’re all friends, you can let me watch.” She sat on the bench beside Oliver, playfully bumping him with her hip to nudge him over. She needed a better view of this one.

Oliver moved over and slowly pulled back one of the branches. Catherine craned her neck to get the first glimpse. This was her funeral, for crying out loud.