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  Diane's eyes welled at the depth of Ben's appreciation for their friendship over the years. She glanced at her sister with eyes hungry for acknowledgment. “Liv, did you know he was gonna do this?” Her voice strained, and she gently tapped her chest.

  Olivia's lips curled in the corners forming into a gentle smile as her cheeks grew pink. “I did. I didn't know how much, but we wanted to take care of you should anything happen to us. You deserve the opportunity.”

  Ethan stepped forward and hugged his aunt. “He loved you. This seems right.”

  Diane placed Anastasia on the floor in front and sat back into the chair fumbling to find its arms. “Please, continue. Don't mind me.” Her hands clasped together across her mouth and nose. Her eyes darted back and forth across the room settling on disappearing into the family portrait on the far wall.

  Ira nodded and noted he was reading directly from the will again. “To the three charities of Olivia's choosing, I leave the sum of one hundred thousand dollars. Olivia, helping others has always been your passion. You have been a driving force behind so many positive causes. I am confident you will know how to divide this money to benefit the greater good of Brandywine and of Connecticut.”

  Olivia nodded looking toward the ceiling, her fingers and palm resting on her chest. “Thank you, Ben.”

  Ira continued. “For clarity, Ben and Olivia drafted the next piece of the will together, and I assure you they were in full agreement on the following proceedings: For the remainder of my assets, I leave our house and property to my wife, Olivia, to live in and/or use as she decides along with a monthly subsidy to use for any upkeep and maintenance, contingent upon Olivia or a member of the family retaining ownership of the property. The subsidy payments have been set aside for a ten-year period. For any investments, cash, and/or equity to our names, we shall equally divide them with fifty percent allocated for Olivia and fifty percent allocated and divided equally between each of my five sons, thus being ten percent each.”

  Ira stopped speaking while his eyes swept across the room. The lack of shocked expressions assured him they'd expected this division of assets. “As of earlier this month, the total monetary value of these assets, which we will divide as previously noted, equals twenty million dollars, meaning Olivia will inherit ten million, and each of the boys will inherit two million dollars, net of taxes, payable within the next two months as I liquidate the accounts.”

  Olivia broke the silence in the room. “Boys, your father and I considered putting the money in a trust for when each of you turned forty, but ultimately decided to release it while you're younger and can enjoy it.”

  Each of the five boys managed some form of a nod. Ira knew from his many conversations with Ben they'd all been careful with money. Even though the family had grown further apart over the years, this was the fair approach.

  Olivia nodded. “Good. We have enough money to take care of ourselves and families. We were lucky, and he was a remarkable husband and father to do this for us. Please continue, Mr. Rattenbury.”

  “As always, you're a shining example of grace, Mrs. Glass. Yes, to continue, the next discussion includes the law practice Ben owned along with his two colleagues, Mr. Jason Wittleton and Ms. Nora Davis. For those who are unaware, Ben had sixty percent ownership in the law practice, and his two partners each owned twenty percent. They are minority owners but are comfortable abiding by the terms set forth in this will regarding Ben's interests. Ben had been transitioning the firm to his eldest son, Teddy, with plans to transfer the daily administration by the beginning of the new year. Should Teddy continue to assume full responsibility for the daily administration of the firm, he will represent the sixty percent majority of the Glass family's share, making the firm's decisions; however, he should divide any of the firm's profits among all five children. Given Teddy will handle the running of the firm, he will inherit twenty percent and the remaining four sons will each inherit ten percent, disbursed annually by the firm's accountant. Should Teddy decide not to keep leadership, the first right of purchase goes equally to the two co-partners. Ben hoped the firm would stay in the family, but he recognized circumstances could change. He wanted provisions in either case. Do you have any questions?”

  Matt spoke up, clearing his throat and puffing his chest. “Since I handle the accounting for the firm, I can explain any details you need. But I've got this one in the bag. I've already spoken with Mr. Wittleton and Ms. Davis, and they understand we need time to process and decide on any changes.” His hands moved as he talked, as though his excitement and pride fought for the top-dog trophy. “They trust me to handle daily operations. We've been paying profits from the firm on an annual basis, usually in February. It's a minor adjustment if we're only changing the percentages and not selling. We're golden.”

  Olivia interrupted, her voice cutting through a growing tension. “Of course, we're not selling. Theodore has wanted to follow in his father's footsteps since he was a young child. Within a few weeks, he will assume leadership with his new partners' guidance expected from time to time.”

  Teddy's grim expression, as if he'd grown discontented in the conversation, captured Ira's attention.

  Sarah, upon noticing her husband hadn't responded, chimed in. “I reckon y'all need a lil' time to figure this out.” She bristled with a nervous energy, her pallor suddenly a bluish green.

  Teddy nodded in agreement. “Yes, we'll address it soon. There is no need to get into those details today. Let's move along, please.”

  Sarah and Zach locked eyes. She reached her hand to Teddy's shoulder, but his entire upper body flinched upon contact.

  Zach rubbed his hand across his stomach as a nerve in his left forearm sharply twitched waking the vines crawling on his skin. He stood to pour a second brandy, shaking his head the entire time he walked over to the sideboard.

  Olivia cleared her throat. “Do you need another one right now, Zachary? It's not even noon.”

  “Yes, Mom, I do. It's been a long day. I don't usually hear my father's will being read, thank you very much.” He dropped two ice cubes in the art deco glass and swiftly swallowed. “Good stuff, Dad.” He toasted with a flick of his hand toward Ben's desk.

  Olivia summoned Ira's attention. “Do you have anything else we need to discuss right now? Or should we take a few days regarding next steps and reconvene as a family at the end of the week?”

  Caleb jumped up, his voice cracked as he spoke. “Mom, I need to get back to Maine soon. I can't stay through the end of the week.”

  Before Olivia could respond, Diane chimed in. “Let's not worry about it right now. Today's an exhausting day. There's way too much for any of us to get through in one sitting. We'll figure it all out.”

  Olivia nodded at Diane, appearing grateful to her sister for holding the peace.

  Matt agreed. “I need to check on the Yankees game. They should play any minute. Time to kick your boys' asses, Ethan.”

  Ben had once told Ira about the long-standing rivalry over which of Matt's and Ethan's teams would win each season; it covered all the major sports and created many fierce battles of loyalty across the family. The Glass men had been solid supporters of all the New York teams, but when Ethan moved to Boston, his allegiance went with him, as did their father's.

  Ethan smiled. “Red Sox rule. No chance for the Yanks, brother.”

  Matt and Ethan stood, assuming the will reading had ended. Both walked by the sofa and were about to open the doors to exit. Matt had his hands pressed to Ethan's shoulders either to jump on him or hug him.

  Ira couldn't decide what Matt would do, but he had expected no trouble up to this point with Ben's requests. The next part had kept him awake the last three nights preparing for a potential confrontation. His palms grew sweaty despite the years of experience he had in delivering difficult news. Ben had become a friend the last few years, and Ira experienced more empathy for the Glass family than for other clients. He cleared his throat and steadied his hands on the desk.<
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  With eyes focused on Matt and Ethan, he spoke. “We have one more matter to discuss. Gentlemen, if you wouldn't mind sitting for a little longer. I have a final message from your father he asked me to oversee.”

  “You need me to stay, too?” Matt questioned Ira as he slid the phone back into his pocket, his lips pursed and dismayed. His ample sigh perforated the room.

  Ira nodded at Matt noticing Olivia's head tilting in his direction.

  Olivia's lips formed into a narrow slit. Her eyes pierced at him as sharp lasers penetrate the fog. “Mr. Rattenbury, we've covered the house, the estate, the law practice, and the charitable donations. What else do we have to review?”

  Ira withdrew two envelopes, leaned toward Olivia, and placed them in her shivering hands. “We need to discuss these, Olivia. Ben wrote them a few years ago, and he asked me to deliver them in the event of his death.”

  Ira's eyes glanced across the rest of the room with a determined focus. “But he clearly specified what he wrote in these letters does not change the terms of his will. He explicitly wanted them handed out after the will reading finished.”

  The grandfather clock loomed in the background, the noon hour arriving with the loud crash of twelve cymbals. Olivia's skin blanched an unnatural shade of white. She clutched her chest, and the jitter of her legs caused the teacup to rattle against the saucer.

  “Do you need a glass of brandy, Mom?” Zach took the teacup from her hands.

  Olivia sighed. “Yes, I would like one now. Thank you.” Her hands rested atop her knees to steady them.

  Zach poured two fingers worth of Remy Martin, dropped off the glass in her cold hands, and moved toward Diane to retrieve his daughter. “Interesting. Open them, Mom. Maybe Dad's got another son who's planning to knock on the door.”

  Olivia dropped the glass, already empty of its contents which had begun settling her nervous stomach. Her rapt eyes followed the glass as it rolled across the carpet landing at Ira's feet.

  Diane lunged, offering her sister a cocktail napkin. “Zach, don't say such a thing. Your father would never cheat on her.”

  “I was only kidding, trying to lighten the mood in here. We all know how much he loved her. My bad. He didn't keep secrets from us. From you.”

  Olivia picked up the glass and dabbed at the brown and green basket weave carpet with the napkin, as her eyes and hands deeply focused on the task. “Of course not. I knew you were joking. It shocked me, that's all. Please explain, Mr. Rattenbury. This is unexpected.” While she controlled her quaking legs, her neck and head still faltered.

  Ira continued. “Yes, prior to opening the envelopes, please do let me provide a few more details. Several years ago, Ben arranged a meeting with me to discuss an amendment he wished to include in his estate. Ethan, you'd recently graduated from high school and Olivia, yours and Diane's mother had just passed away. Ben spoke about the importance of family and how ensuring you all knew how much he cared for you directed his every decision. He handed me these two envelopes. One belongs to you, Olivia.” He paused, pushing himself to say the final words. “And one belongs to his son.”

  The room was silent for fifteen seconds until Teddy clenched his jaw and interjected. “Don't you mean sons? He has five sons.”

  Ira waited a moment to allow the family time to react but had no choice not to continue as all eyes focused upon him—some with doubt, others with a discerning glower. “He meant son. Even I do not know specifically what he wrote in these letters. He asked me to deliver the first one to Olivia. When she finishes reading the letter, she will know what to do with the second one.”

  Zach's eyes rose, and his cheeks lifted with each word. “But which son? Mom, open the envelope. This doesn't make any sense.”

  Ethan stayed silent. A hint of a boyish smile, full of innocence and adoration, focused on his mother.

  Matt sent a text message, holding very little interest in the discussion.

  Teddy spoke, dismissing everyone else's input. “What silliness. Our father didn't play games. What purpose does this business about final letters serve, Mr. Rattenbury?” Teddy shifted his lower jaw, his teeth scraping against one another and sharpening for a readied feast.

  Ira chose not to reply hoping Olivia would know how to control her son.

  Caleb stood and shuffled to the window, his shoulders hunched forward. He appeared angry or afraid of the contents of the second envelope. His eyes pressed tightly, and his lips mumbled incoherently.

  Olivia spoke, her voice was deliberate and soft with each phrase. “Let me open the envelope, boys. I have no idea what this means, but I'm sure reading the letters will clear any confusion.”

  Diane walked over and sat on the chair's arm placing her hand on her sister's shoulder.

  Ira spoke again. “Ben had one other message which I should deliver to Olivia after you've all left. He intended for the boys to give her time to read the letter on her own.”

  Teddy again objected. “No, we will not leave the room. It would seem to me we're all in this together. Give them to me.” His hands reached out toward Ira, stopping an inch away from his wife's nose. Sarah jerked backward with a distinct gasp of familiarity.

  Teddy's right cheek twitched as his top teeth pressed further on his jaw. Ira was determined not to let Olivia give Teddy the envelopes.

  Caleb spoke, surprising his brothers, with his back toward his family as he faced the window. “Dad wants Mom to read them alone. We need to give her time.”

  Zach disagreed. “No, she needs to open it and tell us what's going on. Come on, Mom. Let's get to the juicy details.” He slid his hands together, lifting his brow several times.

  Matt had stopped playing with his phone but tapped the table beside him, fixated on the spinning needles of time on the grandfather clock. He shrugged his shoulders and bobbed his head a few times. “I need water. Maybe you should open it without us. I want an intermission.”

  Ethan stared at the floor, absorbing the impact of what happened around him. “It's up to you, Mom. If it's between you and Dad, you should read it and decide if you need to tell us his last message.”

  Zach and Teddy continued fighting, each raising their voice while arguing unsuccessfully over the best next steps. Teddy would not let up. His voice strained, eyes stretched wider than normal, and a hollow tone grew more pompous with each response.

  Olivia stood, her hands pushing down against the invisible yet stagnant air. The shrill sound of her voice emanating across the room told them she'd had enough. “Boys, we've all had a horribly rough week, and I can't handle the disagreements. Your father died. I miss him so much, and we should honor him by supporting one another, not behaving like silly little children throwing temper tantrums. Please give me time alone with Mr. Rattenbury.”

  Diane took Anastasia from Zach, as he poured another brandy, and left the room. “I'll wait outside if you need me, Liv.”

  Zach took a sip. “Need another, Mom?” When she declined, he took the bottle and left the study with feet stamping the floor as if he marked a return path in each stride.

  Matt had already disappeared up the stairs notifying everyone it was time to check the scores and read to his girls.

  Teddy and Sarah walked out together; Sarah ripened near the point of illness. Teddy tried to whisper as he pushed Sarah through the doorway, but his voice carried across the room for everyone to hear. “This letter reeks of useless nonsense.”

  Ethan gently touched his mom's hand, telling her he loved her, and looked over at his brother. “Caleb, are you coming?”

  Caleb nodded. “Yes, in a minute. I wanna talk to Mom.”

  Ethan exited the room and joined his aunt and niece in the hallway. His relaxed posture and innocent eyes stood out, the only son focused on protecting his mother and not worrying about himself.

  Caleb's eyes grew darker and heavier by the second. “Mom, I'm not sure what Dad wrote in the letter, but maybe it's nothing. Maybe you shouldn't read it.”

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sp; Olivia kissed her son. “Caleb, it's the last communication I have from your father. It's the only time I'll ever again hear his words. I must read it. You go on. I'll find you a little later.” She squeezed his hand.

  Caleb hugged her. “Goodbye, Mom.” After a long stare back, he dropped his head and pulled the heavy wooden doors to the study shut as he left the room.

  Olivia sliced the envelope's seal using the silver opener with the Glass family crest sitting on Ben's desk. She pulled out the contents and spoke to Ira. “You mentioned you had one more message for me? I'd prefer to know before I read my husband's letter.”

  “Yes.” Ira noticed the skin under her eyes had grown darker since he first arrived. “Ben asked me upon his death to locate a woman named Rowena Hector. My associates are searching for her based on the brief details Ben offered to me at the time. I know little of her nor what he put in the letter. Do you know anyone named Rowena Hector?”

  Olivia's eyes grew wider and her lips thinned out. “I do not, but I'm about to discover what secrets my husband has kept.” She unfolded the parchment with a delicate ease and stared at its contents. “I recognize his penmanship. He had distinct round and tall O's whenever he wrote out my name.”

  Dearest Olivia,

  If you're reading this letter, my time has come, and I've left you for whatever lies before us in this great voyage we call life. I assure you, had I any choice in the matter, I would never leave you. I'm grateful you'll have more time with our boys to raise the intelligent and strong men we discussed ever since meeting at Turandot.