“I remember when Grady was that age. He would fight against going to sleep and then collapse.” I took a sip of my sparkling water. “And now Frank is the same way.”
“We are lucky to have children in our lives, aren’t we?” Dolores smiled. “And speaking of our lives, now that we got the ‘Welcome, Jessica’ dinner out of the way, I don’t think Willis has any more designs on our social time. It will be girls only from here on out. What do you think of a late breakfast tomorrow, and then spending the day at the art museum?”
I stifled a yawn. “I think that sounds like a plan.”
“And you, my dear friend, sound like one very tired lady. I think it’s time I check the kitchen. Make sure Lucinda and Marla Mae have gotten everything tidied up. You should take yourself up to bed and get a good night’s rest. They begin serving breakfast at seven thirty, but you can request something at any time. Lucinda lives in a suite behind the kitchen and is very accommodating if you need anything at all. Sleep well.”
* * *
Marla Mae had removed the tray and teapot from my room and left a snack on the desk, some grapes and two sesame-flavored wafers, along with a pitcher of water. I resisted temptation until I was in my pajamas; then I pulled a couple of grapes from the bunch, popped one in my mouth, and sat in the comfy chair, mulling over my very long day.
I was delighted to see Dolores so happy in her new life. Although her husband had a strong, self-centered personality that I knew I could never abide, as long as he made her happy, I was determined to be happy for her. I took a bite of a cookie and idly wondered why Willis worked so hard to be abrasive to his other guests, trying to make everyone uncomfortable. And he enjoyed every minute of it. The only conclusion I could reach was that Willis Nickens was what we in Cabot Cove would call an odd duck.
I crawled under the covers, and when my head sank into the pillow I sighed, expecting to fall asleep instantly. But every minute dragged by like an hour. I grew increasingly restless. I rearranged the pillows twice and moved from side to side and back again. At one point I heard an owl hooting off in the distance. Quiet, mister. You are not helping one bit.
I flicked on the light and sat up in bed. If I had been at home, I would have made myself a nice cup of hot cocoa and read for a while, but I hadn’t been in this house long enough to know where the kitchen was, and I was afraid to disturb the live-in housekeeper if I bumbled around trying to find it.
Luckily, I did know where to find the library. With or without the cocoa, a good book was sure to help me fall asleep. Perhaps I could find a collection of short stories or a volume of poetry. Something that would have an ending every few pages, making it easy to put down once I started to yawn again. I slid my feet into my slippers and put on my robe.
The second-floor hallway was dead quiet, but when I neared the bottom of the staircase I heard voices coming from Willis’s office. I rounded the bannister and peered inside the room. I could see Willis leaning back in his chair, his legs propped up on the desktop, ankles crossed. The light from the desk lamp bounced off his patent leather shoes. He was loud and nasty but clearly enjoying himself. His tone was so obnoxious I hoped he wasn’t speaking to Dolores.
I crept closer and saw his son-in-law, Clancy, standing on the visitor’s side of the desk with his arms folded across his chest. I couldn’t see his face, but his body was so rigid I knew he didn’t like whatever he was being told.
“I have my granddaughter’s best interest at heart.” Willis reversed his crossed ankles. “After Emily died I named you as the trustee for Abby’s trust fund because there was no other choice. I could have named a bank or a law firm. But those are businesses, interested in conserving money. I wanted someone whose main concern would be what is in Abby’s best interest in every way, not just financially. It’s a revocable trust, and legally, I can change it. I have decided Dolores will make an excellent trustee. She genuinely loves Abby, and when I am gone she will inherit so much on her own that Abby’s trust fund will seem an insignificant amount.”
“Willis, I am her father, and I assure you, since . . . since Emily . . . all of my focus has been on giving Abby the best life possible.”
“Sure, it has. The best life my money can provide.” Willis dropped his feet to the floor and leaned forward, both elbows on the desk. “Listen to me carefully. One of the reasons I married Dolores was that I can see how much she loves my granddaughter. And there is no competition, because she has no grandchildren of her own.”
I was astonished that Willis would consider Dolores’s lack of grandchildren to be a plus for their marriage. If Dolores ever found out, I suspected she would be extremely hurt.
He continued. “I’m willing to bet that Dolores enjoys being a grandmother more than you enjoy being a father. And that is why I am going to make her Abby’s trustee.”
Clancy was close to shouting. “That’s completely unfair. I have dedicated my life—”
“Lower your voice before you wake
