“I’m letting the probate court divide up what Frank left according to the law,” I said.

“I won’t ask for damages, but I won’t sign a waiver for you, either.”

Gene nodded once without lifting his head.

He walked down the rest of the stone steps by himself, his shoulders hunched against the wind as he headed for his car in the lower lot.

Claire came out through the heavy glass doors a moment later, her cloth handbag held against her coat.

She stood next to me on the stone landing, her gray-green eyes following Gene’s car as it pulled out onto the main road.