Leo sat on the rug nearby, building an elaborate castle out of wooden blocks, with my aunt’s old golden retriever, Barnaby, snoozing beside him.

Attorney Vance came down the stairs with her briefcase, having finalized the last of the property records with my estate manager.

“Everything is officially recorded with the county clerk, Jessi,” she said.

“The house, the land, the trust.

It’s all airtight.”

“Thank you, Rachel,” I said, handing her coat to her.

“For everything.

For the town car that afternoon, when I didn’t even know yet how much I would need it.