Cemetery Silk Read Online Free

him up during the waltz. It was not until the music stopped that anyone realized his heart had also.
    When Abigail died, she simply collapsed behind William as she followed him into the kitchen to make his dinner. We were told she was dead before the ambulance arrived. William had lingered in the hospital only three days after his last heart attack a week ago. “No pain,” the doctor said. “We made sure.”
    So I was somber but comforted by the knowledge that William and Abigail were together again as they had been for the last forty years. And we were going home where a nice cold glass of Chardonnay awaited us.
    My father had designed the patio behind our house. It sat like a compass right in the middle of the huge grassy expanse of ten acres that made up our backyard. I had placed the brightly colored mosaic of tiles in each compass point. Dad made sure they corresponded to true north, east, south, and west. In the center was a beautifully hand-painted tile with a compass rose. Under the “W” for west was a moon, and you can guess what was set in under the “E.” During the last forty years, many wonderful plans had been made and many delightful words had been spoken east of the sun and west of the moon.
    On the patio this evening, Cassie was curled up like a cat on a chaise lounge. She was all cried out and seemed to have come to terms with the day’s events. I sprawled in limp exhaustion on the wide double rocker beside her. As a writer I suppose I should say something corny like “the brilliant scarlet sky swallowed the golden sun in a ravishing gulp of splendor,” but the truth is that I was, as always, simply ennobled by the beauty of the sunset. It is amazing how much you can see of nature without the intrusion of skyscrapers and industrial fumes. I was quiet, humbled by the glorious sight. So, I thought, was Cassie until she spoke.
    â€œHow much do you think William willed to Gran?”
    I was truly astonished! It had never occurred to me that poor William, who lived in a 750 square foot house with threadbare carpets, would have enough of an estate to actually will anything to anyone.
    â€œReally, Cassie! The poor old soul is not even cold yet! For God’s sake wait ‘till the dirt settles.”
    â€œI loved William and Abigail with all my heart! You know that. But he is dead, and I do remember Granpapa saying that he was worth a fortune.”
    â€œHoney, the way your grandfather spent money, anyone who had a hundred dollars salted away was worth a fortune! And besides.…”
    She interrupted. “I know, but William did sell that land of his father’s to the coal company for at least ninety thousand. And you saw the awful way the poor old souls lived! Their refrigerator was four hundred years old, the carpet was moth eaten, and I almost fell through a hole in the kitchen floor. They surely didn’t spend that money on creature comforts.”
    â€œI had forgotten William once had money, but that was years ago, Cassie. I can’t imagine how you remembered. You were just a baby. Anyway, they must have made some bad investments and lost it.”
    But Cassie was on a roll. I could not imagine where she had heard all these things until she continued.
    â€œAnd Abigail told Gran that after they married, they lived on William’s salary alone. She put all her salary back into her company’s stock option program. Fifteen years worth of AT&T must be a small fortune!”
    She went on without even pausing.
    â€œI just know Abigail would have wanted Gran to have whatever she had. I mean, they were the closest thing to sisters. Gran has to have all those lovely blue chips. After all, if William had died first, Gran would have inherited Abigail’s estate. I wonder if she would like to go back to Paris with a companion? A really smart and capable young woman who speaks some French and can carry enormous bags?”
    â€œDid someone