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Tuesday night, she visited two apartments and met with the girls in both. They seemed nice at both places and Sophie told both she was interested. She knew they were talking to lots of others. The apartments were similar, both were three bedrooms and the bedrooms were tiny, barely fitting more than a bed and a chest of drawers. There was also a galley kitchen and a small common area. The ages of the girls ranged from mid-twenties to early-thirties. The thought of moving into one of these apartments was a little depressing and intimidating but also kind of exciting. Sophie realized her emotions were all over the place at the moment. She knew she wanted to stay in the city though. So, if that meant a tiny bedroom and strange roommates, she would do it.
She applied to several more listings that day as one of the girls had told her they were talking to twelve people about the open room. So, she knew she needed to keep applying until she got an offer from one of them.
Chapter Nine
Sophie’s parents arrived shortly after noon on Wednesday. Her mother swept into her aunt’s apartment with her dad following behind quietly. Her mother walked around, looking at all the rooms, pausing only when she stepped into her aunt’s bedroom. She shook her head then and Sophie thought she saw a damp sheen across her mother’s eyes. But a moment later, it was gone.
“We’ll take the back bedroom,” her mother announced and her father brought their bags into the room.
Sophie followed her mother’s gaze as she walked to the big bay window that looked out over Central Park. “I forgot how lovely this view is.” Sophie knew it had been years since her parents had visited the city.
“We can get it listed before we head home,” her mother said. “We’ll do it after we meet with the attorney on Friday. Maybe he can refer us to a realtor.”
Sophie nodded. She found the thought of selling her aunt’s apartment horribly depressing.
They held two wakes that day, one from two to four and then again from six to eight. Sophie was amazed at how many people came to pay their respects. Her mother seemed surprised as well. “I didn’t expect this, given her age.”
Tony and Richard, the owners of her aunt’s favorite Italian restaurant were among the first to come, just after two, and sadness was etched on their faces as they spoke to Sophie and her parents.
“Penny was an incredible woman. We’ve known her for over forty years now. She will be deeply missed.”
All the neighbors came. Max had spread the word and he and his mother came together. “Mom flew up from Florida. She loved your aunt,” he said.
And there were so many more—people from the museums her aunt had loved so much and been involved with. The lines were long for both sessions. By the time the wake ended a little after eight, Sophie and her parents were exhausted. And starving.
They went to the little Italian restaurant around the corner that her aunt had loved so much. Sophie hadn’t wanted to go there by herself, but with her parents it felt appropriate and honored her aunt.
“I’m still in shock that so many came. I didn’t realize your aunt knew so many people,” her mother said.
“She had a full life here and was involved in the community,” Sophie said.
“I’m glad she didn’t suffer too much. I didn’t realize she had cancer,” her mother said.
“I didn’t either. She didn’t want people to fuss.”
Her mother smiled. “That sounds like her.”
The funeral the next day was a blur. Sophie always dreaded funerals. She didn’t find anything reassuring about them. They were just sad. Overwhelmingly sad. And it was a dark, drizzly day which suited her mood. After the service the burial was held in Brooklyn at the Green-Wood Cemetery. As far as cemeteries go, it was a beautiful spot, but Sophie was glad when it was over and they were on their way to Tony’s and Richard’s restaurant for the mercy meal.
About thirty came for the after-service meal and they were all her aunt’s closest friends. The wine flowed and there were trays of pasta and chicken parmesan, her aunt’s favorite dishes. As sad as it was, the mood brightened at the restaurant as her aunt’s friends shared their favorite stories about Aunt Penny and how she’d touched their lives.
“I worked with your aunt for many years at the museum. She was so knowledgeable about art and had a child-like wonder at the beauty of it all that was contagious.” Linda, a woman in her sixties remembered Aunt Penny fondly.
Sophie enjoyed hearing their stories and by the time everyone left, some of her sadness had lifted too. She knew that Aunt Penny would want them to celebrate her life and to just remember the good times they’d shared.
They had a quiet evening in the apartment and woke early the next day to meet with Aunt Penny’s attorney at nine. Sophie had been dreading the meeting. It was all so depressing. She just wanted to get it over with. She had a few more visits lined up for the next day and had told her parents she’d be home that weekend. She wasn’t looking forward to that at all, but her mother wanted to get the apartment listed as soon as possible and said it was best if it was vacant to make it easy to show.
Thomas Windsor, Aunt Penny’s attorney, was in his late sixties and had a small but respectable office just a few blocks from the apartment, so they walked over. He led them into his conference room which had soft leather chairs around an oval table with a fireplace in the corner. It was a cozy room. The attorney waited until they were settled and then sat at the head of the table and opened a thick binder.
“First of all, please accept my condolences.” He had been at the wake and funeral but still offered them again. “Your aunt was a remarkable woman and a delight to work with. She will be missed.” He picked up a piece of paper and glanced around the table.
“As you are aware, she has two main properties, the Fifth Avenue apartment and the Hamptons Estate. She wishes to leave the Hamptons estate to her niece Ethel.” He nodded at Sophie’s mother who smiled. This was as expected. “She just has one stipulation with the Hamptons Home. She will not allow it to be sold until a year has passed.” He looked around the table. “She wants you to use the property before you sell. I think maybe she’s hoping you won’t want to sell, but after that year has passed, you are free to do whatever you wish with it.”
Her mother nodded. “Does she have the same restriction on the Fifth Avenue apartment?”
The lawyer hesitated for a moment. “She does not. But she did indicate that she would like if it wasn’t sold immediately but there’s no requirement to wait.”
“Good, we’ll want to put that one on the market immediately. Perhaps you can recommend a realtor?”
