Do you have any family nearby, Nancy? Anyone who can help you?
“Just a distant cousin named Raymond. He calls me more often since I got back.”
For a brief moment, Thomas’s expression changed.
He clenched his jaw.
Then he relaxed and quickly changed the subject.
At that time I didn’t understand why.
That same week, Raymond’s calls became even more insistent.
“Are you seeing anyone?” he asked. “You shouldn’t be alone at your age.”
“I’m fine.”
“Have you made a will? You should name someone responsible in case something happens.”
“I already told you, Raymond. I’m fine.”
He asked me which bank I used.
I wanted to know if I was the owner of the apartment.
She mentioned Aunt Margaret again, proudly describing how she had handled everything towards the end of her life.
I remembered that Margaret had died practically destitute in a rented room.
For the first time, I wondered why that memory troubled me so much.