Chapter Four
CHAPTER FOUR
“Promise me you’ll stay in Chatham through the holidays.” Ella’s eyes had been insistent. It was difficult for Franny to refuse her sister anything, but especially when she was literally on her deathbed. Ella was seventy-eight, five years older than Franny. Ella had lived in Chatham all her life. She’d lost her husband, Victor, the year before, and in the past year, she seemed to be fading. She had been battling skin cancer, which had somehow spread from her nose to her neck, and she didn’t want to go through the traditional treatments of chemo and radiation.
She’d called Franny when the hospice nurse said she only had a week left. Franny had visited more often this past year, staying for a week or two each time, and they spoke on the phone every day, even if just for a few minutes. Franny knew the end was coming but it was still so hard. She wasn’t ready to lose her sister. But she knew Ella was ready to go and to be with her beloved Victor. They’d been married for over fifty years. Franny hated the thought of staying in Ella’s house without Ella there. She nodded, though, and agreed, since it was important to her sister. “Of course. I can do that.”
“I don’t think you should stay here, though,” Ella said softly.
That surprised Franny. She smiled and gave her sister’s hand a gentle squeeze. “Where do you suggest I stay, then?”
“Well, of course you could stay here, but I don’t think I could do it. I’d be too sad. And I don’t want you to be sad, Franny. I’ve had a truly wonderful life, the very best. I want you to feel nothing but happiness when you think of me. I would stay at that bed-and-breakfast on Main Street—the Chatham Coastal Inn. The owner is a lovely woman. You’ll like it there.” She had sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. It was the most she’d said at once in a very long time and it had clearly taken a lot of energy that she didn’t have.
Franny nodded. “I’ll find it. But you’re not going anywhere just yet. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Ella opened her eyes and Franny saw a twinkle of good humor there. “Maybe you will, maybe you won’t. Good night, Franny. Love you.” Her eyes drifted shut again and Franny stood. The hospice nurse entered the room and waited for Franny to leave so she could check on her sister.
“’Night, Ella. Love you, too,” Franny said softly.
The hospice nurse let her know in the morning that Ella had passed peacefully in her sleep. It was a shock at first because Franny thought she would have at least a few more days with her sister, but she realized that Ella was ready to go. And she’d made it easy for Franny. Ella had already paid for her funeral and picked everything out, right down to the music she wanted—her instructions were for only happy music, nothing gloomy or sad. She really wanted people to celebrate her life.
And so they did. Ella had thought of everything and left a detailed list for Franny of who should be notified—she still had quite a few friends in town. Franny wrote an obituary and oversaw everything, from the wake to the funeral and the gathering after. The past few days had been a blur. Franny had taken her sister’s suggestion and checked into the Chatham Coastal Inn.
Beth, the owner, was a lovely woman, as her sister had said. Franny felt her frustration as she’d hobbled over to the front desk on her crutches. Beth’s daughter was helping, though she seemed to have her hands full with the two little girls that raced through the living room laughing.
Franny had settled into her room, which was on the second floor. It was very comfortable with a queen-size bed covered in a puffy cream-colored comforter with cranberry and navy accent pillows. There was a little nook to the side of the room that had a small table facing a bay window that looked out over the ocean and the busy street below. There was a plush armchair and ottoman that faced a wall-mounted television. And there was also a small refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker. She could manage here quite nicely.
After a lobster roll for lunch at the Chatham Squire restaurant, Franny walked down Main Street until she reached the law office for her sister’s attorney. They had an appointment to go over Ella’s will and her estate paperwork. Franny wasn’t looking forward to the meeting but knew as Ella’s only remaining relative that it was a necessary step.
The law office was just past the bookshop that Franny had discovered on an earlier trip to visit her sister. Both she and her sister loved to read and Franny had spent a solid hour in the shop browsing the shelves and taking note of the staff recommendations. She’d picked up a few books and when she finished one, passed it along to her sister. Though that was on earlier visits, since more recently Ella didn’t have the energy to read. Franny made a mental note to stop in the store after her meeting. If she was going to stay in town through the holidays, she would need a few more books.
She reached the law office and stepped inside. A young woman at the front reception desk looked up and smiled when she saw Franny.
“Hello there. How can I help you?”
“I have a meeting with Jessica.”
“Of course. Please have a seat and I’ll let her know that you’re here.” She stood and walked out of the room as Franny settled into a leather chair and picked up a magazine from a side table. Chatham Living by the Sea was a thick magazine and Franny was impressed. It was full of gorgeous photography—beautiful homes and landscapes and articles that looked interesting. She loved looking at the pictures of home interiors. It had always fascinated her to see how people decorated their homes and gave her ideas she wanted to try. Maybe she would pick up a copy for herself at the bookshop. She was admiring a stunning all-white kitchen when the receptionist walked back into the room.
“Jess will be right out,” she said as the phone rang and she reached for it.
A moment later, Jessica walked over. Franny had already met her at the wake and then again at the funeral. She was a stylish woman in her mid-fifties.
“Hi, Franny. It’s nice to see you again. Let’s go chat.”
Franny stood and followed Jessica into her office and sat in the leather armchair in front of Jessica’s desk. Once they were both seated, Jessica pulled a stack of papers out of a folder.
“Now, I am aware that as your sister’s executor you already have a copy of her will and know that she left everything to you and a small amount to her favorite charity, the local animal shelter.”
Franny nodded. She hadn’t wanted to go over the will earlier but her sister had insisted. So they’d discussed it once. The only remaining relative was Franny. There was the Chatham house and a healthy bank account. Franny sighed. She didn’t need her sister’s money. She was fortunate that she was comfortable financially. She’d been a widow for almost ten years now and still oversaw the family business. After a year had passed she would consider selling her sister’s house or possibly hold on to it and visit in the summers. She didn’t have the energy to touch anything there just yet.
“Yes, Ella went over her wishes with me a year or so ago. I don’t imagine anything has changed since then?”
Jessica smiled. “Well, the will itself is pretty much the same. But your sister left some letters for you, with instructions that you are to open them in order, one a week.”
“What are they?” Franny couldn’t imagine. Her sister hadn’t mentioned anything about the letters.
“They are all sealed, so I haven’t read them, but she told me that each one has some memories and something she’d like you to do. She said it’s very important that you open them in order and that you don’t skip ahead.” She handed the stack of four letters to Franny. Franny looked at the creamy envelopes, the thick and heavy paper with her sister’s delicate handwriting. She wondered what Ella had been thinking. It wasn’t like her to be so mysterious. Franny was curious to open the first letter—to open all of them. But she would do as her sister requested and space them out. And she’d wait until she got back to the inn and could read the first letter in private. It would be like hearing her sister speak again and Franny wondered what she had to say that was so important.
“Thank you.” She tucked the letters into her oversized purse. Jessica had a stack of paperwork for her to sign. It didn’t take long, and twenty minutes later, she was done and Jessica walked her to the door.
“Don’t hesitate to call if you have questions about anything.” Her eyes were as warm as her smile and Franny appreciated it.
“Thank you, dear.” Franny headed out and took her time strolling back to the inn. It was a warm day for the first week of December and there were quite a lot of people out and about. She popped into the bookshop and bought a copy of the Chatham Living magazine to read that evening. When she walked back into the inn, both Beth and her daughter Riley were sitting at the front desk. Beth had her leg up on a chair and was sipping a mug of tea while Riley typed on a computer. They both looked up when Franny stepped inside.
“Did you have a nice lunch?” Beth asked.
“I did. Can’t go wrong with the lobster roll at the Squire.”
Riley and Beth nodded in agreement.
She told them about her visit to the attorney’s office. “All the paperwork is done now. But my sister wrote me a series of letters, four total, and I’m to open one a week.” She smiled. “I haven’t the foggiest idea what she was up to, but I am looking forward to reading that first letter. I’m going to head upstairs and make myself a cup of cinnamon tea and see what she has to say.”
Riley looked intrigued. “How fun! I hope the letters are good news or that they bring you comfort. Please keep us posted.”
“Yes, please do. You’ve made us curious now, too,” Beth added.
Franny laughed. “I will.”
She made her way to her room, heated up some water for tea, and once that was done, she settled in her comfy chair and opened the first letter.
My dearest Franny,
If you’re reading this, I’ve recently passed. Please try not to be too sad. Know that I am with Victor and Henry now and we all are with you, always. I got the idea to write these letters when Dr. Davis gave me the news that the cancer had spread and that I likely only had a few months. When that time drew near, I sat down and started writing.
There are things that I want to show you over the next few weeks. I want to share my Chatham with you, to show it to you through my eyes and to leave you with something really special. I can’t share what that is just yet but when you get to the last letter, I think you will appreciate that I’ve kept the best for last.
So, the first thing I want you to do is one day this week, get yourself a hot cup of coffee to go and drive to the Chatham Light. Sit there and look out over the ocean, sipping your coffee, gazing at the beautiful lighthouse and remember when we were young and used to walk to the lighthouse, sit on the wooden bench, and dream of our futures. You still have many years ahead of you, Franny. Dream big and enjoy what life gives you.
Love,
Ella
Franny’s eyes welled up and a single fat tear slid down her nose and landed in her lap. She laughed. “I’ll do that, Ella. I’ll go right now.” It was still early afternoon and the sun was shining. Although plenty cold outside, it would be the warmest time of day to head to the beach.