Page 49 of A Winding Wave of Magic
A child’s tears, of course. Ones I had managed so easily for my father, but hadn’t been able to conjure once for the womanwho had raised me from that moment on. Apparently, I could only cry that way in the past.
I never listened to that song again after he died.
Just one more broken promise to him.
What kind of monster was I?
“Thanks for that,” I mumbled, angrily swiping my cheeks. “Because I wasn’t heartbroken enough right now.”
“I didn’t know.” Lynch’s voice was quiet and somber. “It was never my memory to See, just one you shared with Penny. One she knew well enough that no one would be able to replicate. I apologize for the…pain…it must have caused.”
A handkerchief materialized in front of my face, which I decided to accept. His sympathy whispered through my cheeks, although with the tears of another woman he’d offered it to once—a pretty, dark-haired girl with lips the color of cherries.
“It’s okay.” I dried my eyes and handed it back to him. “He died about a year after. That was the last time we saw him.”
Lynch tucked the handkerchief into his breast pocket, then turned to the will on the table. The words had all reappeared across the top. “Do you need a moment more? I’m in no hurry.”
I shook my head. “No. Let’s just get this over with.”
“Well, it’s fairly simple. I’m just here to answer any questions and ensure that her will is executed as she wished.”
He handed me the document and waited for me to read it.
16
THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF PENELOPE ANN MONROE
There is a blue eye which will look back at Ireland;
never more shall it see the men of Ireland nor her women.
— ST. COLUMCILLE, “A BLUE EYE WILL LOOK BACK”
I, Penelope Ann Monroe (formerly O’Brien), residing at 38774 Reed Rd, Manzanita, Oregon, USA, declare this to be my Will, and I revoke any and all wills and codicils I previously made.
ARTICLE I: Funeral expenses & payment of debt.
I direct my executor, Jonathan F. Lynch to pay my enforceable unsecured debts and funeral expenses, the expenses of my last illness, and the expenses of administering my estate out of any remaining accounts.
It is my wish that my body be cremated at the Seaside Mortuary and that my last of kin scatter them on the Southwestern shore of Inis Oírr of the Aran Islands, Ireland, at the personal homeof Robert AND Caitlin Connolly. I wish to have no memorial service or public notification of my death in any way.
ARTICLE II: Money & Personal Property
I give all my tangible personal property and all policies and proceeds of insurance covering such property, to my daughter, Sybil Whelan, née Monroe, with the exception of the enumerated clauses below. If she does not survive me, I give that property to my grandchild, Cassandra Jayne Whelan.
My executors may pay out of my estate the expenses of delivering tangible personal property to beneficiaries.
Clause 2A: All personal assets held under account #0273849-928 at the Bank of Ireland I give to my granddaughter, Cassandra Whelan, for her own personal use as she sees fit.
Clause 2B: I also give Cassandra Whelan my black recipe box if in the event she has not received it prior to the event of my death.
Clause 2C: The remainder of my personal finances I give to my daughter, Sybil Whelan, nee Monroe, under a trust that allows her to receive funds at the rate of $5000.00 per month until her death. I hereby appoint my granddaughter, Jonathan Lynch primary trustee.
ARTICLE III: Real Estate
Clause 3A: I give the following residences to my daughter, Sybil Whelan:
10024 Greenwood Avenue N, Seattle WA 98115 USA
