Skye managed to avoid speaking to Mona and kept her distance from the couple. She was still too angry about the essay contest to be civil.

Jed, Skye, and Vince sat on chairs they had brought in from the dining room. May was ensconced in Grandma Leofanti’s La-Z-Boy.

Everyone stared at one another. No one seemed to know how to start.

Finally Skye said, “How about if we each take a moment and tell how Grandma was special to us?”

A murmur went through the crowd, but no one responded.

“I’d be glad to go first,” Skye continued.

Ginger leaned forward. “Yes, you always are, glad to be first, I mean.”

Gillian snickered.

“Fine, feel free to go ahead then.” Skye sat back and crossed her arms.

Before Ginger could respond, Dante interjected, “Don’t be asinine, Skye. Let’s just get this over with.” He turned to May. “So, what did Ma want us to do?”

May put on her glasses and leafed through a sheaf of papers. “Well, I’m not even sure if it’s legal or not, but since most of the estate is tied up in the trust, she just wrote me a letter about the other stuff.”

Hugo looked at his father. “Maybe we should talk to our lawyer and see what he says.”

“I thought of that,” May said quickly, “but he costs so much and this is really just about her burial and the disposal of the knickknacks. I guess it depends if we can agree.”

Dante narrowed his eyes. “Go ahead then and tell us what she wanted.”

“First, it seems that she already picked out her casket and prepaid for the funeral at Reid’s. Here’s the contract.” May passed a document to Dante. “She also talked to Father Burns and picked out the readings and such.”

“Well, I wonder why he’s never discussed that with me or Neal?” Mona said. “I am head of the Altar and Rosary Society and Neal is the Grand Knight of the KC.”

“So, it seems the arrangements are already made,” May said. “Unless someone has an objection.” She looked around the room.

Dante glared at Skye. “I should have known you’d manage to get the business for Reid’s.”

“Uncle Dante, Simon doesn’t need our business.” Skye paused and then smiled wickedly. “After all, people are just dying to get in.”

Vince snickered and the twins tsked.

Dante turned red and sputtered. “You… you have no respect-”

“As to the car,” May interrupted, “Mom wanted Skye to use it as long as she needed, but when it’s sold the money is to be divided among the great-grandchildren.”

The twins buzzed.

“Okay,” May continued, “now for the personal stuff. Mom wants us to each take what we want and then sell whatever no one claims.”

“What if more than one of us wants something?” Ginger asked.

“She’s thought of that. We’re to draw numbers and keep going around until there’s nothing left that we want.” May held up a bowl filled with slips of paper. “That’s why she requested that the grandchildren not bring their spouses or children.”

“So, whoever gets number one gets first choice?” Gillian rose to her knees.

“Right.” May mixed the chits up with her right hand.

“Who gets to draw first?” Hugo edged forward on his seat.

“Oldest to youngest. Mom had everything figured out.” May brought the dish over to Dante.

She then selected a number herself. After putting it in her pocket, May went over to Minnie. “Your turn.”

Minnie shrank back in her seat. “Let the girls go first.”

“Sorry, but that’s not how Mom wanted it.” May stood firm.

Mona was the last of the children. Hugo was the eldest grandchild, then Vince, then Skye.

“I can never remember. Which twin is older?” May asked.

“I am.” Ginger snatched one of the two remaining slips from the bowl.

To Skye Vince whispered, “Bet that’s the last time she ever admits it.”

May sat back down and glanced around the room. “Who drew number one?”

No one spoke. Everyone rechecked their chit and then looked at one another.

Eventually, Minnie raised her hand. “But I don’t know what I want.”

Ginger and Gillian began whispering furiously to their mother, who looked more bewildered as they spoke. She finally nodded.

“I want the dining room set.” Minnie sank back in her chair like a deflated balloon.

Skye hoped this didn’t bring on another of Minnie’s spells. In the past, in any kind of stressful situation, Minnie would close herself in her bedroom and read cook-books for days on end. She’d come out during the wee hours of the morning and raid the kitchen, then retreat back to the bedroom. She wouldn’t talk to anyone, and an attack could last from two or three days to a week. No one could break her out of one once it started.

“That includes the buffet and china hutch, right?” Ginger hovered over her mother.

Voices flooded the room. When they quieted, May said, “Yes, anything that is a set goes together. We aren’t doing this fork by fork.”

Dante stepped toward May. “What gives you the right to say so?”

“If we’re going by this letter, Mom asked me to settle any disputes.” May looked at Dante without blinking.

He grumbled, but having number two he took the antique sleigh-style bedroom set.

“Three?” May’s eyes searched the assembly.

Gillian flashed her paper triumphantly. “I want Grandma’s good jewelry.”

“There’s only a necklace and earrings. And it isn’t a set. You’ll have to choose one piece.” As Gillian opened her mouth to argue, May continued, “If you argue you automatically have to go last.”

“Fine, I’ll take the emerald earrings.” Gillian stuck out her lip.

Ginger shot Skye a malicious glance. “I have number four. But before we go on, I want to bring something up. Since Skye, as the oldest female grandchild, already got the Leofanti emerald ring, wouldn’t it be fairer for her to go last now?”

“No.” May’s look dared anyone to disagree. “So, what do you want, Ginger?”

“I’ll take the emerald pendant.” Ginger sank back on her heels and whispered to her twin.

“Five?”

“Me, Mom.” Skye turned the paper she had been clutching to face the room. “I’d like the oak table by the window. It was Grandma’s favorite piece. She talked about it a lot when she was telling me the family history.”

Mona was next and she took the silver. Hugo was number seven and wanted the living room set. Vince took the safe, saying he could use it in his shop, and May took the china.

By the conclusion, everyone had four or five things and little was left to be sold.

Besides the table, Skye ended up with an old trunk, an incomplete set of pink crystal wineglasses, and the everyday dishes. No one mentioned Bingo, and she didn’t remind them.

As they all got ready to leave, May cleared her throat. “I have one more announcement.”

They all looked at her expectantly.

“Chief Boyd found the body of Mrs. Jankowski yesterday in the abandoned well out back. With her, they found a pan of brownies, which they believe were poisoned. They were probably responsible for Mom and the housekeeper’s deaths.”

The room was filled with voices asking questions.

May shook her head. “That’s all I know.”

The family broke into clots, hauling away their loot and whispering about May’s announcement.

Skye walked out with her parents and Vince. They were the first to go, leaving the others still picking over the last little items.

As Vince loaded Skye’s table into the Olds, he asked her, “Why didn’t you take one of the more valuable items when it was your turn?”

“Like I said, this was Grandma’s favorite piece.” Skye paused.

“There’s something more,” Vince prodded.

Skye reddened. “Well, not that I believed her, but she used to say it was magical.”