Verity was cautious about going to the funeral. The twins were so young and she didn't know if they should be brought out in public, but she had no one to watch them and couldn't bring herself to leave them home alone. But this was Padma's funeral and the thought made her sick, but she couldn't possibly dishonor her by not attending.
On top of that, and more than anything, Verity could not allow Theo to face this on his own. She knew that he was strong, but she knew how much Padma had meant to him. She'd never seen anyone have such an effect on him. And Nathaniel, too young to understand, but he was still her godson.
But what she had found had turned her stomach more than anything. Theo was- cold. She watched him carefully, though gave him his space, he would approach her if he wanted her company. He would know she was there but she wouldn't force him to act so fake with her. It broke her heart to watch him like this and she wondered if it wasn't only Padma who had died, but her Theo as well...