Frances found Reena in the back garden hanging freshly laundered bed linens from the guest rooms. New B&B visitors would be arriving in two hours. Frances had finished preparing a charcuterie platter and a separate fruit and cheese board. She’d brought up the wine, done as much as she could to get ready for breakfast tomorrow and then checked the post. Now, mercifully, they had the house to themselves. She passed a small envelope to Reena then sat on the iron bench.
“What’s this?”
“Read it.”
Reena pulled a funeral card out of the envelope then unfolded a small letter. She read it quickly and then sat beside Frances and took her hand.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
Frances shrugged. “I lost him a long time ago.”
“But your nephew!”
“What do you think?”
“Of course he should come. I’d love to
