the children’s designated guardian would be. First named was his ex-wife, Crystal Baird Holloway, of course. Next in line was Sean Michael Maguire. A judge of the probate court would issue an order after the noticed hearing had taken place.
More silence hung over the conference room while people digested this. Derek had not designated Jane, who claimed she had every intention of marrying him. He hadn’t chosen Patrick, either; Patrick didn’t even bother hiding his relief. No, Derek had picked Sean Maguire, his half brother, a man who had barely been a presence in the children’s lives.
The social worker quickly jotted down the information as Mr. Logan prepared to turn the reading over to Frances Jamison, Crystal’s lawyer.
Jane pushed back from the table. “I’ve heard enough,” she said quietly, then left with her lawyer.
“Not a happy camper,” Frances murmured under her breath.
Lily tried to focus on the pages Frances held before her. The document was dated five years ago, when Crystal and Derek had drawn them up together. There were bequests to Dorothy and to Lily, who had expected nothing: “To my best friend, Lily Elaine Robinson, I leave the sum of $10,000 along with my wardrobe. Lily, you were never much for fashion, but maybe you’ve changed.”
Lily was struck by her friend’s sentiment and by the echo of Crystal’s own authentic voice. She groped for a Kleenex in her purse, but found she’d used them all up. Without a word, Sean turned to the credenza behind him and grabbed a box, pushing it across the table to her.
Crystal’s disposition to her children was identical to Derek’s except that, in the event that the children were minors, the estate was to be administered by Crystal’s mother, Dorothy Mansfield Baird. Dorothy was also named guardian of the children.
Frances tapped the stack of papers on the hard leather surface of the table. “Ladies and gentlemen, this part is problematic, which is why I’ve asked Miss Robinson to attend today. Dorothy Baird has succumbed to a massive stroke. At present, she is bedridden and shows no recognition of friends and family. Her prognosis is poor, so she won’t be able to undertake any of the responsibilities noted herein. As a matter of fact, I had a meeting scheduled with Crystal to address just this issue. She wanted to change her will, designating Miss Robinson the children’s guardian in the event that her ex-husband could not undertake that duty.”
“That contradicts Mr. Holloway’s document, which, unlike his ex-wife’s, is dated, signed and properly filed,” said Mr. Logan. “The designated guardian is supposed to be agreed upon by both parents, and since that didn’t happen, we expect the court to rule for the father’s wishes.”
Lily knew the devastation was still stark in her eyes as she lifted them to look around the table. No one even seemed to notice that she was there except Sean Maguire. He was watching her with an intensity that made her shiver.
She ignored him and tried to focus during the rest of the proceedings. Ms. Fuller delivered a preliminary financial disclosure that seemed to take everyone but Red by surprise. Sorting through the rhetoric and studying the columns of numbers, Lily realized Derek was up to his eyeballs in debt. Crystal was in nearly as deep. With the extravagant lifestyle they’d enjoyed both before and after the divorce, they had managed to spend even more than Derek’s considerable earnings. No one said it aloud, but everyone knew that in layman’s terms, this meant they were close to broke.
Red looked around the table. “Professional golf is a heartless game. You can make a million dollars one year and the next year get zilch.”
There was a long explanation of the provisions of Derek’s insurance policy and how the bequests would work in the absence of actual cash, but Lily didn’t listen. She had other things on her mind, and when the meeting ended, she went straight to Susie Shea. “I should be taking care of the children, not Maguire,” she stated without preamble. Just like that. The decision had come to her swiftly, not really a decision so much as a compulsion. She had made a conscious choice to be alone all her life. Now she was choosing to end that isolation.
“Maybe Maguire has an opinion about that,” he stated, his tone hostile. “Maybe Maguire’s opinion is that you should butt out.”
“For the time being,” said Ms. Shea, “Mr. Maguire is the designated guardian. However, Mr. Maguire, I hope you understand that Miss