A few weeks later, Caroline and I took seats at a long mahogany conference table in her lawyer’s office. At Caroline’s insistence, Pru and Darwin were there, sitting across from us.
Caroline’s lawyer gave her a reassuring smile. “No surprises in Mike’s will, everything to the family except for a very generous bequest to his fraternity.” He slid a paper to Caroline. “Here’s a list of his assets. Mike was very good about taking care of his personal affairs.”
An unfortunate choice of words, I thought.
He slid another paper in front of Caroline. “He left his sailboat to you, and his car—”
“We’ll sell them,” Caroline cut in.
The lawyer raised his eyebrows. “His condo?”
I glanced at the paper in front of Caroline, taking in the numbers. Mike may not have been the best brother, but he was certainly financially successful.
“Sell it,” Caroline said.
Caroline’s lawyer tented his fingers. “Think about the tax consequen—.”
“Sell it.”
Pru caught my eye across the table and we shared a smile. Shy Caroline was coming out of her shell.
“We’ll need some improvements to the farm. We’re tearing down the barn and the Love Nest and Darwin will plant a field of sunflowers there. Riley’s in charge of improvements to the ice cream shop.” Caroline nodded to her lawyer. He handed a check to Pru. When Pru looked at it, she gasped.
“It’s for Willow to go to art school,” Caroline said.
Pru’s eyes glistened as she passed the check to Darwin. “That’s so generous.”
Caroline said, “I know in my heart that nothing would’ve made Buzzy happier.”
Darwin shook his head. “I don’t know if we can accept—”
Pru folded her arms. “Darwin Brightwood, when someone gives you a gift, you take it. Thank you, Caroline. Thank you.”
I pulled Sadie up to the kitchen porch. Distant rumbles were all that remained of an afternoon of thunderstorms that had caused temperatures to plunge and kept customers home.
“It’s gotten chilly,” Caroline said.
I remembered the sweater I found when I’d taken Sadie from the barn. “Buzzy’s sweater’s on the back seat.”
She grabbed the sweater and scurried to the mailbox as I ran up the steps. Once inside, she handed me an envelope with a New York return address. I tore it open and took out two tickets to a tennis tournament. “Center court!” There was a short note. “Come see me play. I miss you guys. I miss Mike. No matter what, we’re friends, right? Angelica.”
I showed the note to Caroline, knowing that her emotions regarding her brother were still tangled, wondering what she would say. Her lips turned up. “Let’s go see her.”
I laughed. “I’m glad you said so, because otherwise I’d have to take Paulette. She’s a huge tennis fan.”
Caroline put on Buzzy’s sweater. “Ah, this is cozy. Glad the meeting with the lawyer’s over with. I’m glad it’s all over with.”
Not quite. I could still hear Nina’s shriek as she ran from the grave.
Donna Danforth confessed to setting fire to Aaron’s house, but she wouldn’t talk about anything having to do with Nina, protecting her until the end. I wondered if that would change if she ever let herself believe that Nina had killed Brooke. I’d never think of her as Dandy again.
Though the police examined the shell of Kyle’s Mustang, there wasn’t enough forensic evidence to prove he’d killed Martha Woodley in that hit-and-run so many years ago.
The life Kyle had known was over now anyway. He was busy shuttering his political campaign. Nina was on house arrest, out of jail on several million dollars bond.
After carefully choosing a few photos and yearbooks to keep, Caroline cleared out Mike’s room and had the walls painted my favorite emerald green. I went to Virginia for a few days to close up my apartment so I could return to become the full-time manager of the shop. I had a few flavors I wanted to add to the menu.
On the same day Aaron the Hermit was released from the hospital, he picked up McGillicuddy and disappeared. A Penniman Preferred Properties For Sale sign now hung on a post in front of his burnt-out hulk of a house. I wondered what kind of plans Emily was making, what her next move would be. For now the Preserve at Fairweather Farms was on hold, but the land was too valuable. I knew it wasn’t the last we’d hear from her.
Caroline stood at the sink, looking at the front of an envelope.
“Tea?” I put the kettle on. Rocky jumped onto my chair. I picked him up, sat down, and draped him across my lap.
Caroline didn’t answer.
“Caroline?”
“This was in the pocket of Buzzy’s sweater.” She turned the envelope so I could see the words written on it in Buzzy’s looping handwriting: My will.
“Open it!” I jumped out of my seat, Rocky giving a cry of protest at the quick movement. She tore open the envelope and we bent over the paper.
Though the words on the envelope were handwritten, the letter inside was typed.
Loved Ones,
I’m supposed to say something about being of sound mind and body. You bet I am! Is that legal enough for you?
I’ve given this lots of thought.
I was born and raised here on this farm. I know the world is changing. I don’t want Mike or Caroline feeling like they owe me something. Live your lives, kids. If you live it here on the farm, great. If you live it in Timbuktu, I hope you’re happy.
This place is special. I don’t want it to change. If Mike or Caroline plan to sell the farm, then I don’t want them to have it.
“That’s clear,” I said.
If neither Mike nor Caroline want to keep the farm, then it is my wish that Fairweather Farms become part of the Penniman Land Trust. No hard feelings. I’d like Darwin and Prudence Brightwood to remain as managers of the farm. I know they love it as much as I do.
Mike and Caroline get everything in the house, whether they want it or not.
One thing: Udderly Delightful is my baby. Please find a way to keep it open. If you have to hand it over to someone, please make sure it’s someone who will love it as much as I do.
That’s it. Oh, please take care of Princess Hortense Ophelia Tater Tot, aka Sprinkles, in the manner to which she has become accustomed. In other words, spoil her rotten! I’ve stashed some money for her care in my mattress.
Caroline, sell whatever you want. If you want to change the house, go ahead. I won’t mind. Much. LOL.
Love you all,
Mom/Buzzy Elizabeth A. Spooner
“Is it legal?” Caroline spoke as if dazed.
I laughed. “Who knows? As legal as Buzzy could be. Call your lawyer. He’ll get a kick out of this.”
A rap on the door made us look up. Sprinkles cast a bored look toward the door then stalked away. Caroline hurried to answer it. “Detective Voelker!”
For heaven’s sake, his name is Jack. How long is it going to take these two to see the inevitable? I rolled my eyes, but my heart warmed for my friend.
Rocky groomed his paws, unconcerned, bored even. You actor!
Caroline led Voelker into the kitchen. He carried the tip jar and set it on the table. “My apologies. One of our officers left this off the list of your brother’s effects and I forgot to bring it over. You’ll have to sign for it.”
I looked closely at the money in the jar. Most of it was bills, probably enough to cover the repair of the ice cream chiller.
“Good timing, Buzzy,” I whispered.
Rocky leapt onto the table and nosed the jar. We all laughed, but I swept him up in my arms. “Why don’t you make some coffee, Caroline? I left something in the car. Come on, Rocky, come with me.”
“Coffee?” Caroline said.
“Thanks, that would be nice,” Voelker replied.
My work here is done, I thought as I stepped outside onto the front porch. I settled on a step, drinking in the view across the sunflowers. Rocky purred in my lap. For the first time in a very long while, I had no travel plans, and that was fine with me.
THE END