Page 12 of The Unraveling of Julia

“Do you have any idea how she’s related to me, if at all?”

“No.”

“Did she say why she was leaving me so much money?”

“No.”

“What about how she knew me?”

“No.”

“Did you ask her?”

“No, and I don’t typically.” Lombardi paused. “In my practice, it is not uncommon for certainsurprises, shall we say, to arise when beneficiaries are named. Children and lovers, relationships previously unknown, come to light. All of the secrets come out. For that reason, I make it a point not to interrogate my clients about the particulars. To do so would be to burden their disclosures to me, and I want them to have their final wishes fulfilled in every respect.”

Okay.“How old was Rossi when she passed?”

“Seventy-seven. She died of breast cancer. I will email you the mortuary certificate when I obtain it.”

Seventy-seven.Julia realized Rossi would be about the age of her biological grandmother. “Is Rossi her married name?”

“No, it is her name. In Italy, women keep their last names when they marry. Children take the father’s last name.”

Oh.“Was Rossi married?”

“No.”

“Divorced?”

“No, she never married.”

Julia blinked. “But she had children?”

“No, none.”

Julia tried to understand how Rossi could be her biological grandmother, then. “She must have.”

“None.”

“How do you know she didn’t have any children?”

“She told me.” Lombardi hesitated. “However, I do not verify information supplied me by clients.”

Oh.“So you don’t know if it’s true, but it’s what she told you.”

“Precisely.”

“Did you meet Rossi?”

“No. I offered, but she declined. This is not atypical, as most of my clients are older or infirm. She contacted me via phone, and I drafted the documents and sent them to her.”

“No email?”

“No.”

“Was she referred to you by another client or a lawyer?”

“No, not that I know of. She called the office, as I remember.”

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