“I suppose I rambled on a bit, reminding her how she selected my poem. I told her I’d always felt guilty not writing much else, especially because my dad was an English professor. I admitted I was struggling to find meaning in my cleaning work.”

Liv had also revealed to Essie that she longed to be a writer, too, but she didn’t divulge this to Anthony.

“You asked her for a job?” the solicitor said, raising an eyebrow.

Liv shook her head vigorously. “No, I certainly didn’t mean it that way. It was a fan letter, that’s all. I poured out stuff because it was cathartic. I felt really embarrassed after sending it. Essie must receive loads of letters and I didn’t expect a response. But then a signed copy of her sixteenth book When Midnight Beckons arrived for me. There was a small note from her PA asking me to get in touch about a job. I had no idea Essie only lived a couple of miles away from me.”

“It sounds very serendipitous,” Anthony said. “But I’m not sure it explains everything.”

“What do you mean?” Liv frowned at him.

“About why she left this wish for you.”

Liv kept asking herself the same thing.

Anthony toyed with his pencil for a while, as if wondering whether to tell her something. “You should know Essie also left something for you in her will,” he said.

Liv’s jaw dropped. Was he kidding her? “That’s so amazing of her, and kind,” she said. Curiosity rumbled inside her and she stole a side-glance at him. “Do you know what it is?”

Anthony’s left eye twitched. “Applying for probate and dealing with Essie’s estate could take a long time. There’s lots to do, notifying various organizations and authorities.”

“Won’t they recognize her name?”

“Everything will be done under Essie’s real name,” he said. “I’ll share the contents of her will with you as soon as I can. Hopefully before you finish writing her book.”

“Oh, right.” Liv bit her lip. She felt dreadful speculating what Essie might have left her, but a sum of money could really help out her and Jake’s finances. “Did she have any close relatives?”

“No. She must have thought a great deal of you.”

Liv caught something strange in the tone of his voice, perhaps bewilderment, or even jealousy. “Well it’s a nice surprise,” she said.

“Yes, I thought so, too,” he replied coolly.

Liv fidgeted with her pencil. She’d told Anthony things she’d never even revealed to Jake and now he was acting all judgmental. “How did you know her?” she said.

He cleared his throat. “A client recommended me to Essie, ah, several years ago.”