Alan answered after two rings.
“Barbara?”
“Hello, Alan.”
Something in her voice must have changed his expression.
“Everything all right?”
Barbara looked toward the folder.
“No,” she said quietly.
“But I think it’s about to be.”
She explained Harper’s demand.
She explained Daniel’s answer.
Alan did not interrupt.
When Barbara finished, the line remained silent for several seconds.
Then Alan asked, “Are you certain?”
Barbara looked down at Robert’s signature.
She remembered the day those papers had been signed.
Daniel had been thirty-six.
Newly married.
Ambitious.
Desperate to expand the family development company Robert had built from almost nothing.
Daniel needed capital.
Robert had agreed.
But only under conditions Daniel had complained were unnecessary.
Barbara remembered him tossing the pen onto Alan’s conference table.
“Dad, you seriously think I’d ever take advantage of Mom?”
Robert had looked him directly in the eyes.
“I hope not.”
Daniel had laughed.
“That’s insulting.”
Robert hadn’t laughed back.
“Then you’ll never have to worry about what you’re signing.”
Barbara had thought Robert was being harsh.
Eleven years later, she wished she could apologize.
Alan’s voice returned her to the present.
“Once I file the notice, Daniel will know.”
“I understand.”
“Harper will know.”
“I understand.”
“There may be consequences bigger than the condo.”
Barbara’s gaze shifted toward the sea.
“Alan?”
“Yes?”
“I spent six years after Robert died trying to keep everyone comfortable.”
She swallowed.
“I’m tired of being the only person expected to be uncomfortable.”
Alan became quiet again.
Then he said, “Robert would have understood that.”
Barbara smiled sadly.
“Robert understood it before I did.”
Alan explained what would happen next.
There would be anger.
Accusations.
Possibly panic.
Barbara surprised herself with how little that frightened her.
“That’s no longer my responsibility,” she said.
Alan breathed out.
“All right.”
The call ended.
For the first time that afternoon, Barbara felt hungry.
She made herself a sandwich.
She ate half of it.
Then, almost exactly one hour later, she heard engines below.
Barbara stepped onto the balcony.
A black SUV had entered the parking lot.
Behind it came Daniel’s silver Mercedes.
Harper climbed from the SUV first.
Even from three stories up, Barbara recognized the expensive cream-colored linen outfit and enormous sunglasses.
Catherine emerged from the passenger side.
Richard walked around the rear of the SUV.
Daniel began unloading suitcases.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Then golf clubs.
Barbara gripped the balcony railing.
They had not come hoping Barbara might leave.
They had arrived assuming she already had.
Her phone buzzed.
A message from Harper appeared.
We’re here.
Are you packed?
Barbara read it twice.
Then she looked through the open doors.
The brown leather folder remained on the dining table.
Robert’s signature was visible from where she stood.
Barbara typed one word.
No.
She pressed send.
Below, Harper pulled out her phone.
Barbara watched her read the message.
Harper’s head snapped upward.
Their eyes met across three stories of humid Gulf air.
Barbara lifted her coffee cup.
And took a slow sip.
Her phone rang immediately.
She declined the call.
It rang again.
Decline.
Again.
Decline.
A minute later, someone began pressing the downstairs buzzer.
