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“When you know, you know, Connie.”
She was trying to teach me to trust my gut. It’s done well for me so far. Except sometimes I don’t know if I’m following my gut or following my fear sometimes.
“Dr. Chaplin.”
I turn around toward the deep voice calling out my name and find myself face to face with Fred Frederickson. “Mr. Frederickson…”
He smiles, sealing his lips together.
“What a surprise…”
He tries to laugh, but it’s stilted. “Yes, I’m sure you didn’t expect me to show my face around here any time soon.”
I raise an eyebrow.
“I’m… sorry for the way I behaved the other day. Not to mention wasting your time with our dinner.”
“Was that your intention with inviting me to dinner? To waste my time?”
Fred sighs. “Not outright. I was certainly interested in your plight, but it was disingenuous since I had already made up my mind.”
“Mm.”
“So, my apologies. Forgive me.”
I’ll think about it. “Well, with the debacle of the skeleton settled, I’m sure you and your wife can get to work on your demolition.”
“Um, no, actually. We’re going to move back to Chicago.”
I veil my utmost shock. “Oh?”
“Liliana… well, we’re not happy with the way she handled things, of course. But it’s clearly a much more deep-seated issue than Donna or I were willing to acknowledge. Or… even saw.”
I blink.
“We thought moving away from the city was a good thing, but we realize now it was a fruitless sort of thing.”
“I see. So you’re leaving the house untouched?”
Fred adjusts his tie. “In a way.”
“You’re selling,” I say as if it’s a fact. I feel bad now that Bea is probably going to be in the midst of legal troubles and unable to make her dream a reality. I can’t help wanting the best for my fellow townsfolk, even if we don’t get along.
He chuckles. “No, actually. Um.” He reaches into his back pocket and withdraws an envelope. “Here.”
I stare at his extended hand, then eye him suspiciously.
Fred jabs it closer. “Take it.”
I take it carefully and open it as if it might be filled with anthrax. I withdraw a few pieces of paper, the first of which has the word “Deed” written across the top. My vision goes blurry. “I don’t… understand.”
“In order to keep Liliana’s record clean with the school, I had to make an arrangement with Principal Fleming that would be a reasonable exchange. You know, Ivy Leagues would never consider her with an expulsion on her record.”
“So you’re givingmethe deed to the Wilhelm House?” My mouth is hot with those words. Feels like a dream.
“Well, it’s a bit of a two-fold arrangement. It’s a dual ownership between the historical society and the school, which means both of you can get the grants and support for the upkeep and also use the space for educational purposes. However, the work is split and should be taken up with you and Fleming.”
My jaw drops. “You don’t want your money back?”
