Louise told him no.

He came back the next week with a form that had a lawyer’s letterhead across the top.”

“And you said no a second time.”

“I said no, and then I phoned your grandmother at home to let her know he’d asked.” He passed the page across the desk.

“She said, that boy can wait until I’m gone.

Then she laughed at her own joke.

Twelve days later she was gone, and I quit finding it funny.”