Strena popped the cork from the Veuve Clicquot she’d brought, handed the bottle around, then poured the rest of the champagne on the grave. “I reopened The Gallery Velar. We had a record showing this week. Every piece of artwork sold. We were written up in the Times.” She shook the last drops out of the bottle. “Also, I know I promised to look after your granddaughter, but she’s pretty dope. Girl can take care of herself. She had the brains to hook up with a decent guy who only occasionally gets on my nerves.”

Bram gave her a slight bow, and when Strena moved back, he stepped up in her place. He laid his own bouquet of roses, then rested a hand on the headstone. “Remember when you said you were going to hook me up with your granddaughter? And I said I was fine alone? I was wrong and you were right. I know women like to hear that.”

He moved aside, and I pulled a snow globe from my bag, a perfect miniature carousel inside the glass. I shook it, then set it on to top of Violet’s gravestone.

“Ludington’s is a success,” I told her. “We’re giving the big auction houses a run for their money. And I had my inaugural benefit auction.” I pulled a check for one hundred thousand dollars from my back pocket. “For stroke research. I’m dropping this off today, but wanted to show it to you first. More to follow.” I stashed the check away then drew a deep breath. “About your friends… Mrs. Yang and Louis both recovered enough to leave the center. They bonded over the grief of losing you. They’re getting married next month in Miami. Mrs. Yang took Lai Fa with her. She’s a happy chicken, on her way to being an Instagram star. Oh, they went to Vegas right after they left the center, and Louis won a major poker game. I hate to tell you this, but all that time you won at cards, I’m pretty sure he let you beat him.”

I swallowed a heavy lump of grief. “I like living in the Village. The house is great. I redecorated it. I hope you don’t mind.” Okay. “Don’t freak out. I made the fourth floor into a Violet Velar Museum. Open every Saturday and Sunday. I had a security system and professional temperature and humidity control installed. Some of your old students volunteer on rotation. I have about two dozen of your paintings on loan from your most ardent collectors, and in the middle of the room, Strena made a 3D installation from your old clippings and photographs.”

I picked up the snow globe, shook it again, and this time, I wound it up too. Wurlitzer music filled the air. “You’re a tourist attraction. If it bothers you, you can haunt me.”