Compass Rose by John Casey

Author:John Casey [Casey, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
ISBN: 978-0-307-59430-3
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published: 2011-10-03T16:00:00+00:00

chapter forty-six

Elsie was sitting outside Jack’s new office on the top floor of the Wedding Cake, having second thoughts. She said out loud, “The truth is …” and couldn’t finish her sentence. She’d thought that saying it out loud to herself would make her untangle her thoughts. The look of relief on her boss’s face when she’d handed him her letter of resignation still hurt. And she hoped Jack wouldn’t ever let slip to Rose how Johnny Bienvenue had helped with her severance pay and pension, or how Jack had handled the board of governors at the school. Jack ushered her in, and she interrupted his waving his arm at the view of Block Island Sound. She said, “I haven’t really thanked you. I think I sort of took my own breath away.”

“Not necessary. A good move all around.” He came from behind his desk and sat beside her in the other visitor’s chair. “Of course, you’ve got to settle Miss Perry’s estate before you can officially start. As executrix you’ll be in charge of whatever has to be done to the house before title passes. The will stipulates that the estate will pay for that. It’s some extra work for you, but you’re the only one who can make sure it gets done the way Miss Perry would have done it.”

Elsie let Jack roll on, didn’t even raise an eyebrow when he said, “Six months. Johnny did a good job. Usually takes a year. In addition, I happen to know there’s a good feeling about all this—a charitable donation from a person above reproach. Not a lot of scrutiny.” She only spoke up when he said, “Usually someone who’s done the sort of caregiving you’ve done …”

“Jack. Don’t.”

“It’s just that it strikes me … Why the Pierce boys and why not Rose?”

“Jack.”

“Of course, as executrix you certainly can’t award yourself compensation for prior caregiving, but there may be—”

“Jack, listen to me.” He tucked his chin in, then gave a little start when she touched his arm. She said, “I know you mean well, and I’m grateful you’re ready to go over all the ins and outs. But there’s one part of all this I really want to leave … undisturbed.” She was surprised, too—she could see her usual sharpness far away, like the rare appearance of the aurora borealis this far south, a pale green flickering just above the northern horizon. “So we won’t talk about the time I spent with Miss Perry.” She leaned back in her chair. “It’s in its own—” She held her fingers around an imaginary ball.

“All right,” Jack said. “A closed book.”

“Sphere.”

“Sphere,” Jack said, and nodded. He leaned toward her and took her hand. “I understand, and I think it’s admirable.” Was he being nice or an old goat? Elsie thought she’d better free her hand before he started saying things like “I’ve always admired you.”

She said, “Sally,” and sat up straight. Her hand came loose. “Sally had some ideas.” She couldn’t think of any ideas.

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