She spun around to face me. “The day after I first came here.”
“Why did you see him?”
“I wanted to get an extra copy of my grandfather’s will and to ask him about selling the property if I decide to go that route. And …” She paused, shrugging, her gaze cast downward.
“And what?”
“I wanted to know when was the last time he spoke with my grandfather. If he could tell me anything about his demeanor.”
Narrowing my eyes, he moved closer. “What about his demeanor?”
“I don’t know. I wondered if there was anything off about him. Something that maybe I hadn’t gleaned from conversations over the phone. Evidently, there was because I never suspected he was undergoing treatment for cancer.”
“The lawyer knew?”
She shook her head. “No. He did say that my grandfather visited him twice in the month before he died, which was out of the ordinary.”
“That was it?”
“Pretty much. He said he seemed a little thinner but that it hadn't concerned him at the time. He wouldn’t tell me much more about their interaction, citing privilege, or whatever. That’s when I went back home and started digging around. That same day was when I found the prescription. Do you think this is why he could’ve killed himself?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know why your grandfather didn’t tell you about the cancer, but my instincts are still telling me he didn’t kill himself.”
She pushed out a breath and bobbed her head as if agreeing. “I don’t think he did, but so many people have told me that maybe that’s my grief talking.”
“What people?”
She shrugged. “My parents. My mom was sad, of course, but she said it was probably bound to happen since he lived out here alone for so long.”
“She didn’t visit him?”
Jodi let out something between a laugh and a scoff. “Hardly. She had no plans of ever remaining in Texas for very long. She was more comfortable in New York. Now, semi-retired, she and my dad split their time between the City and South Carolina because she loves the beach. A few years back, they offered to have my grandfather move in with them, but he refused. Said he wasn’t going anywhere.”
“He knew what he wanted.” I stepped closer.
“Yeah. He rarely left the state. The few times he came to New York were for me. Two of which were my high school and college graduations.” The gleam of happiness in her eyes from the memories caused my heart rate to speed up.
She let out a laugh. “I remember the first time I ever went on one of those double decker bus tours was with him the day after I graduated college. He said that was one of the only touristy things he wanted to do in the City. He didn’t care for the City too much, but he was so proud when I crossed the stage.”
She shook her head, and I didn’t miss the sheen of tears in her eyes before she lowered her head.
I moved closer, my hand going to her waist while the other cupped her chin. “We’ll find out who did this to him. Who took him from you before his time.”
She inhaled and let the breath out slowly. “Time. That was something I always thought there’d be more of, you know?”
The question was like a punch to the gut. I did know. I often remembered how my mom and Joel spoke of how they’d spend their retirement. Even when I was a teen and in college, I remembered my mother mentioning wanting to go on a cruise with Joel, but she had to put it off until after Gabe finished high school. Then they could relax, she’d say. She didn’t live long enough for my youngest brother to make it out of high school.
“You look sad. What are you thinking about?” Her soft voice brought me back to the present.
“My mother,” I answered honestly.
A small smile captured her lips, and she looked around my office. “I bet she’s proud of you. Of what you’ve built here.”
I shrugged the thought away because I didn’t want to dwell on shit that I’d never know.
“Did the lawyer tell you anything else?”
Her lips pinched as she thought. “No, only what I’ve told you so far.”
