I was frightened of losing the person who had always known what to do.

But I knew the answer wasn’t to hand everything to people who had ignored Grandpa while he was alive.

“Then I’ll learn,” I said.

Chloe snatched her sunglasses from the hall table.

“I can’t believe you’re choosing a pile of old furniture over your family.”

I looked toward Grandpa’s armchair.

Its upholstery was faded at the arms, and one rear leg had a felt pad he kept forgetting to replace.

He had sat there beside me during thunderstorms, explained fractions, and pretended not to notice when I watched sad movies and cried.