There were only a few flowers, a gray sky, and the unbearable feeling that someone who had deserved much more from life had received far too little.
As the others began leaving, a tall man in a dark suit approached me.
“Mr. Carter?”
“Yes.”
“My name is Thomas Reed. I was Eleanor’s solicitor.”
He offered his condolences, then glanced toward the path to ensure we were alone.
“I need to speak with you privately.”
I followed him to a quiet bench beneath a tree.
He opened his leather briefcase and removed a sealed envelope.
“Eleanor left this for you. She gave me strict instructions not to deliver it until after her funeral.”
I stared at the envelope.
“Why me?”
“Because she chose you very carefully.”
I shook my head.
“I met her at the center. I volunteered there. That’s all.”
Mr. Reed studied me.
“No, Daniel. That isn’t all.”
My stomach tightened.
