She reached out and touched his arm. “I’ll come back then. If you want, and if you think it would help to not go through all her stuff alone.”

He turned and gave her another hug. “I know I should say no, and that I’m fine, and I don’t want to bother you, but I’m going to ignore all that and just say yes to your help right now.” He let her go and tried his best to smile; he couldn’t hold it for more than a second. “I think I’m afraid of being here alone.”

“Then don’t be. You don’t have to be alone.” She smiled at him and adjusted her purse on her shoulder. “Okay then, I’ll call you tonight when I get home…make sure you’re okay.”

Simon nodded. “Thanks.”

Eileen turned to leave.

“Oh! Wait I almost forgot.” Simon called after her. He reached into his back pocket, pulled out a worn business card, and handed it to her. “When you’re ready, that’s the number for Clare’s attorney.”

Confused, Eileen glanced at the card and then back to Simon.

“Her estate,” he explained. “The attorney will help explain everything.”

Eileen shook her head. “Explain what?”

Simon raised his eyebrows. “Your inheritance. Clare left you quite a lot of money.”

It was Eileen’s turn to raise her eyebrows. “What? What do you mean?”

“She never told you?” Simon asked. “Eileen, you and I are the only beneficiaries of Clare’s will.”

“Me?” It hadn’t occurred to her that Clare would leave her money.

Simon sighed. “I’m sorry. We should have talked about this instead of me tossing it in your lap on the way out the door. Look, call the attorney when you’re ready, but you can’t wait too long, okay? They want to get it settled.”

Eileen nodded and she read over the card.

“Eileen?”

She lifted her head.

“It’s a lot of money. It will change your whole life. You’re going to need to hire your own accountant and attorney. I can give you the names of some good people.”

Eileen laughed at the very idea. Her? Hiring an attorney and accountant?

“It’s close to eighty-five million dollars. And that doesn’t include the percentage of future royalties you’ll be receiving.”

She stopped laughing.

* * *

“Ms. Greyden,” the flight attendant greeted her at her seat. “Can I bring you a preflight beverage?”

“A cup of tea would be nice, with milk, please.”

“Of course.”

Eileen sat back in her seat, closed her eyes, and hugged her complementary pillow and blanket to her stomach. It didn’t seem possible, the way her entire life had changed in a week.

“A week,” she whispered to herself. It had to be some mistake. To lose your sister, your husband, and be thrust into an entirely new realm of responsibility. It seemed like years’ worth of upheaval.