That eased my mind. I felt confident by the time I dialed the accounting department at the stroke care center.

“Oh, you’re Violet’s granddaughter!” a woman called Maribel cooed. “I’m so sorry about your loss, honey. How can I help?”

“My grandmother had an agreement with the center. She was going to pay off her bills when her house sold.”

“Yes?”

“But then payment came due immediately on her death. And the house sale fell through. I’d like to work out a payment plan.”

Maribel’s keyboard went clickety-click on the other end. “How much could you afford per month?”

“Five hundred dollars?” I put my hopes into Sergei’s sales skills. “It would be only for a few months.”

A second passed in silence, then another, and another. Was my offer too low? Did I offend her?

Then, before I could promise more than I might be able to deliver, she said, “How about four hundred? As you said, you’ll find another buyer. Violet showed me pictures of that house. It’s gorgeous. I wish I could afford it.”

“So do I. Four hundred would be great. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Emsley. Did Violet ever tell you she helped my granddaughter into the Tyler School of Art at Temple? She wrote my Gracie a reference. Made a couple of calls, even.”

As Sergei would say, Anybody surprised, raise their hand.

By the time I ended the call with Maribel, a huge load lifted from my shoulders. I was on a roll.

“Okay, Wonder Chicken. Ludington’s is next.”

I pulled up our last financial report and pored over spreadsheets and numbers. “We’re not in great shape.”

Lai Fa tilted her head in a way that said if she had a worm, she would give me half.

I moved on to human resources. “Seventeen employees.”

I made a list of the people I needed to help me start up the New York office, then emailed Trey with what I wanted: IT support who could work for me remotely, etc. I also told him that if he went in the political polling direction, and if our auction-specific staff were willing to move, I wanted them with me.

And we’d share the client list.

I had his response in two minutes. Deal. He attached a draft agreement his attorney had drawn up.

I leaned back in my chair, if not exuberant, at least optimistic. I closed my eyes. “I miss you, Violet. I wish you were here to see me make it.”

I wanted to go downstairs to see how Sergei was coming on with the carousel, but I had one last thing to do first.

I emailed Trey’s contract to Adele. I copied Bram.

He immediately responded with, Dinner after work?

Me: Who’s cooking?

Bram: The Thai restaurant on the corner?

Me: Are we going out?

Bram: Either that or eat in bed.