Page 177 of Summer After Summer

The rest of us sit there in silence as Fred settles back into his chair.

“What now?” Sophie says eventually.

“I believe I can be of service,” Fred says. He takes the document from me and picks up a pen. He makes short work of it, striking through various clauses, explaining as he goes. “I’ll be removing your commission and fee. I assume you agree, sir?”

Barry rouses himself. “I’m terribly sorry about all of this. I had no idea.”

“We’ll let the licensing board sort that out, shall we?” Fred draws a few other heavy lines, initialing each as he goes. “Now, that’s all done. Each of you sign and initial where I’ve initialed, and this will be the right copy.” He speaks to Barry. “The money shall only be wired in accordance with these instructions, you understand?”

“Yes, yes, of course.”

Fred passes the paper to me, and I do as he instructed. Then I pass the papers to Charlotte. She’s crying, her shoulders slumped. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

“I’m sorry, Charlotte,” I say. “I wish it didn’t have to be this way.”

Charlotte signs, then pushes the papers to Sophie, who signs them and gives them to Barry.

“Good,” Fred says. He turns to Lucy, who has been sitting in stunned silence through all of this. “And that house that Charlotte is buying … Do you still want it, Charlotte?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Surely there’s another lawyer in town who can take care of that transaction?”

“Absolutely,” Lucy says. “And I want to apologize for my part in it.”

“Your part?” I ask with a sinking feeling.

“It was Ann’s idea that I approach you about the estate sale. I should’ve said.”

“They wanted it all,” Sophie says. “As much as they could get.”

“I swear to you I had nothing to do with this,” Colin says, rousing himself.

“I know, Colin.”

“But oh God, I’m embarrassed to say this now … I do think he was trying to rope me in.”

“How?”

“He offered me a job. At a new company he was going to start once he’d raised the funds. As an equity partner.”

“What would the buy-in have been?” I ask.

“A million.”

“What?” Sophie says.

“I told him it wasn’t my money to decide what to do with. And then Fred offered me a job, much more solid and secure …”

“Thank God for Fred,” Sophie says, standing, pulling Colin’s hand. “Can we go now?”

“Yes.”

She looks at me. “I guess we’re still having the party?”

“Why not? Dad?”

“What? Oh yes, yes. All my friends are coming.”

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