chapter 45

Hope’s nightmarish satan-in-law, Diana Rockenwagner, was talking her ear off about petty bull once again.

“Listen, Hopie,” she started with her affected accent. Hope hated that. No one called her Hopie, it was an Indian tribe. “I’ve been thinking . . .” Really? That’s a first, thought Hope. “And for Gavin and Chippie’s sakes, I really think you should consider moving to the suburbs. Your money would go a lot further there and it’s just not fair to the boys. They should really have a yard.”

Hope was stunned. Her anger mercury was rising fast and would quickly burst if she didn’t take deep breaths to calm herself. “Well, Diana, I’m sorry you think my boys are deprived. They have a lot of love and a hands-on mom, so I’m really not concerned for their well-being.” Hope stuck in the hands-on part because she knew her sister-in-law had a full-time live-in nanny who did everything, including the fun stuff, like push the swings and organize the birthday parties.

Diana was too dumb to get the jab. “I just think they need more space! A yard.”

“But you don’t have a yard.”

“We have a thousand-square-foot terrace and a country home,” she replied.

Who says country home? What a bitch from hell. Hope could not abide her presence or even her poison voice through the phone. “Thanks for your input, Diana. But we have a yard. It’s called Central Park.”

“Don’t be defensive, Hope. It’s just a suggestion. It would really look much better if you had a nice house in Westchester or Connecticut instead of that rental. It just doesn’t look right.”

Hope, who never truly fumed, was fuming. “So it’s not about the boys, it’s about how things appear? To whom? To you and your catty competitive cronies? Goodbye, Diana.” And with that, she hung up.

Hope stared at the phone for a moment afterward until the sounds of two hands clapping turned her around. It was Charlie.

“Great job, sweetie! What do I always tell you? Tell Diana off if she’s being a bitch!”

“You heard that?” she said, getting up to give him a hug. “Sorry. She was just being so evil, telling us to move to the suburbs, meddling in our lives. What’s her problem?”

“Her problem,” Charlie said, taking his wife in his arms, “is that with all her money and fancy crap, she’s miserable. And she’s jealous ’cause she knows we’re happy.”

“I guess . . .”

“But we’re no longer poor and happy—”

“What? Did you hear?”

“An hour ago. Greenwich Equity just gave me the offer.”

“No way!” Hope was elated. So John Cavanaugh came through. And she didn’t have to put out or anything. He was, after all, a nice guy.

“But . . . Panther Capital just called just now. They offered twenty percent more! And it’s in the city!”

“Oh my God! That’s amazing!”

They hugged tightly and Hope jumped up and down. “I am so proud of you, sweetie.”

“I’m proud of you.”

“Me? What for?”

“You do everything. You’re the best wife, the best mom, and a true friend.”

As they leaned in for a kiss, the phone rang.

“Let’s just let it go to the machine,” said Hope, kissing her husband and pulling him to the bed. As they kissed on the down comforter, the machine picked up and beeped.

“Mrs. Matthews, hello, my name is Lyster Sargent. I’m your Aunt Edna’s attorney. I’m terribly sorry to tell you this on your machine, but—”

Hope bolted up and grabbed the phone. “Hello? I’m here.”

“Oh, hello. Mrs. Matthews, I’m so sorry to tell you this, but your Aunt Edna has died. My deepest condolences.”

“Oh my God,” she said. Aunt Edna . . . dead? She was a royal pain in the butt, but still, that was really due to the fact that she had been in very poor health for the last few years of her life. Hope could remember a time when she was actually a fun great-aunt. Hope felt herself get choked up. Charlie sat up and gave her a hug from behind as she reached for a tissue.

“She left a long note, it seems she knew she was on her way out, saying you were the only one who ever truly loved her, sending care packages and photos of your sons.”

“She loved the boys so much,” Hope sobbed.

“She loved you as well,” he said, pausing, then clearing his throat. “And she left you her entire estate.”

Hope was stunned. “What?”

“Everything. And she was a good little saver. After estate taxes are settled, you will receive about three million dollars.”

Silence.

“What did he say?” asked Charlie, studying his wife’s shocked expression.

“Oh my God,” she said, shaking. “I can’t believe this.”

“It’s true. I am FedExing her letter to you and I’ll be in touch with you next week. Again, sorry for your loss.”

Hope hung up the phone. As Charlie stared at her tear-stained face waiting for news, she stared off into space, thinking how very strange life was.