Page 99 of The Billionaire’s Nanny

"I'll have a copy made for you. Nadia can make it Monday."

"I don't want a copy."

Carrington hadn't let go of her end.

"It's her writing," Grace said. Then, faster, "I know it's got your name on it, so you can say no. I wouldn't lose it. I'd keep it in my whale book, in the Marguerite part. Nobody opens that but me."

It was the last thing Clara had ever said to her. Carrington had left it sealed through a whole spring and had reread it most weeks since. She wanted it back in the drawer. She opened her hand and let go of it.

"Yes," she said.

Grace got up with it flat against her chest and stepped over Carrington's legs. She got out to the hall before she leaned back in.

"Aunt Carrie."

"What is it?"

"Constance is the one behind the plant," Grace said. "She's always behind the plant." Then she took the stairs two at a time.

Carrington didn't get up. She couldn't tell them apart, but she could count them. Nine fish, the same as always.

At four, Carrington called Lucy.

It rang four times and she almost hung up. When Lucy answered, the wind hit the phone first, then gulls, then a child shrieking somewhere close.

"Hang on," Lucy said. Then, away from the phone, "Put it down. I mean it. Back in the bucket." The wind cut out, like Lucy had turned her back to it. "Sorry. What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong."

"You're calling me in the middle of a Saturday."

Carrington hadn't moved off the study floor. "Grace asked for Clara's letter. I gave it to her."

Lucy didn't answer. Out on the beach, the child shrieked again, and another one joined in.

Lucy's voice dropped. "Yeah? How'd she do?"

"She's keeping the letter."

"And how are you?"

Carrington opened her mouth to say she was fine. Her throat wouldn't shape it. "I wanted to hear you," she said.

Lucy didn't answer that. Just the wind again, and the gulls.

"Okay," Lucy said. "I'm here." Then, sharp and away from the phone, "No. No, we do not lick it. Because I said so." She came back breathing hard, like she'd run a few steps. "I'm still here."

"You're busy."

"I'm always busy. Talk anyway."

Carrington didn't have anything else to say. She listened to the gulls and to Lucy breathing. One of the twins asked whether jellyfish had faces. Carrington didn't hang up, and Lucy didn't either, for almost a minute.

"I have to go before somebody gets stung," Lucy said. "I'll be home before six."

"All right."

"Save me some corn."