Letty paced around the living area, debating the pros and cons. She went back out to the patio, watched the sun sink lower toward the horizon, watched Joe DeCurtis, patiently casting and recasting his line again and again. He was a man who didn’t give up, she concluded.

It was nearly dusk when she picked up her phone. First, she tapped *67, to hide her own number. Then she called the number on Samiya Chritesh’s business card. She’d expected the call to go directly to voice mail, had even practiced the message she’d leave, but was startled to hear a voice at the other end of the line.

“Hello. This is Samiya. Who’s calling please?”

Letty was momentarily stunned into silence. “Um, this is Letty Carnahan. Tanya’s sister.”

“Oh! Oh my goodness. Letty. I didn’t think you’d call.”

“I didn’t think so either,” Letty admitted. “My friend texted that you need to talk? What’s so urgent?”

“Where are you? Is Maya with you? Is she all right?”

“Maya’s fine. You don’t need to know where we are. Have you talked to Evan?”

“I’ve talked to his lawyer. Very unpleasant man. But I don’t represent Evan. I represent your sister Tanya, or your sister’s estate.”

“What does that even mean?” Letty asked. “Are you telling me Tanya actually had a will? Because I find that hard to believe.”

“Yes, of course she did,” Sammi said. She paused. “Oh, I see what you’re getting at. You’re right. Tanya was a free spirit, wasn’t she? But when she found out the kind of law I practice, she asked me if she should have a will. And I told her, as the parent of a small child, especially because she was not married to that child’s father, she should definitely do some estate planning.”

“And Tanya did as you suggested?” Letty was still unconvinced.

There was a long silence at the other end of the phone.

“Did Tanya ever tell you anything about me?” Sammi asked.

“Not really. I know that you met at yoga.”

“We didn’t meet at yoga,” Sammi said finally. “We met at AA. I mentioned one night that yoga really helped, when I was trying to become sober, and afterward, your sister asked me about yoga. She joined the studio I attend. That’s where we became friendly.”

“Is that allowed?”

Sammi’s laugh was low and throaty. “Of course. When we met, we were both struggling. Tanya helped me as much as I helped her. I was grateful, so I agreed to assist with some legal matters.”

“I just…” Letty was at a loss for words. “Did she talk to you about Evan, about her fears, for herself and for Maya?”

“She did,” Sammi said. “I’m sorry, Letty. Sorry for your loss. And even sorrier that I couldn’t do something to save your sister.”