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“And no need for the sir,” he said, kissing her on the forehead.
Hattie went to phone her parents.
“Peter,” Stone said, taking out his notebook, “take a walk around the house with me.” The two of them went upstairs and started with Peter’s bedroom, making a list of what furniture and possessions he wanted to send to New York. They then looked over the whole house, Stone listing things-a mirror here, a chair there-that might work in his New York, Connecticut, or Maine houses.
“Who did Mom leave this house to?” Peter asked.
“I don’t know, Peter,” Stone replied. “I haven’t read her will yet. We’ll get together soon with Bill Eggers and go over everything.”
“I don’t want this house or the property,” Peter said. “I’ll always think of it as the place Mom died.”
“I understand. We’ll look into selling.”
The five of them dined at a table in the study, then went to bed.
The following morning Somes drove everyone to the airport and loaded their luggage into the airplane.
“What are you going to do with the Gulfstream?” Peter asked.
“I don’t have any idea yet,” Stone replied, “but I think it’s more airplane than we need, since we already have the Mustang.”
Peter nodded. “I think you’re right.” He walked Hat
tie into the hangar and showed her the interior of the larger aircraft.
Stone preflighted the airplane and got a clearance, then they took off into clear blue skies. They touched down at Teterboro at eleven, and Stone drove Hattie and the Bacchettis home.
“Do you want to have dinner tonight?” Peter asked.
“I think I’d better eat with my parents tonight,” Hattie said. “How about tomorrow night?”
“Sure.” He gave her a kiss and got back into the car.
“Hattie’s quite a girl,” Stone said. “You’re lucky to know her.”
Peter managed a smile, something he had not done often since his mother’s death. “I know that,” he said, “believe me.”
An hour later Stone was at his desk.
Joan came in and gave him a big hug. “I’m so sorry,” she said.
“Thank you.”
“I know we’re going to have a lot of work to do, settling the estate, and I’ll do everything I can to help.” The phone rang, and she answered it. “Bill Eggers for you.”
Stone took the phone. “Hello, Bill.”
“How did things go in Virginia?” Eggers asked.
Stone told him about the service.
“Can you lunch with me tomorrow in my office?” Eggers asked.
“Of course.”
“I think we should go over Arrington’s will and the estate.”
“I’ll bring Peter,” Stone said. “I want him to hear all this from you, not me.”
