Then she nodded.
Sophie wandered toward a display showing the history of the hospital.
Daniel arrived late.
He had brought flowers.
“Bribery?” I asked.
“For Maria.”
“Good. I don’t like those.”
“You never did.”
We watched Sophie explain something to Vanessa with enormous seriousness.
Daniel put his hands in his pockets.
“I sold the house in Westchester.”
I looked at him.
“The one Dad left you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Too big.”
I waited.
He smiled.
“And before you ask, no, I am not hiding financial problems.”
“I wasn’t going to ask.”
“You absolutely were.”
He was right.
“What will you do?”
“Buy something smaller.”
“Where?”
“Maybe Connecticut.”
I looked toward Vanessa.
Daniel followed my gaze.
“Not that close.”
We laughed.
Then he grew quiet.
“I spent a lot of years protecting things because Dad protected things.”
“Our father protected money.”
“And reputation.”
“And grudges.”
Daniel nodded.
“I don’t want to inherit all of that.”
