East Hope Read Free

and, feeling the familiar tears threatening, she sipped again and swallowed.
    â€œI still remember how beautifully you spoke at Harry’s service, Pete,” Julia said. “You captured all his remarkable traits.”
    Pete and Harry had been close friends in business school as well as partners at the firm for almost twenty years. Their friendship was somewhat unexpected; Harry, the proper Bostonian, quiet, diligent, was the opposite of Pete, a party boy with dark-haired good looks and an easy grin. Pete was known for being a tough, hard-driving businessman, not afraid of a fight to close a deal. Yet, when he had helped her this winter, Caroline had witnessed his kinder side, his patience with her endless questions, his willingness to give her his full attention not just as a business adviser, but also as a friend.
    â€œI miss him,” Pete said. “We all do.” His gaze slid to Caroline. She sipped her wine and set the glass down.
    Arthur cleared his throat. “Harry was remarkable,” he said. “Never missed a day at the office. Stayed on top of everything, a perfectionist.” Arthur’s silver hair, silk tie, and blue blazer exuded authority.
    Caroline tried to smile. Arthur was probably unaware of the full extent of Harry’s business dealings, his disastrous encounter with Sunil Gava and Avistar, the biotech start-up. Maybe Pete hadn’t told him everything. Caroline didn’t want to disappoint Arthur, a man so comfortable in his predictable world. He had helped nurture Harry’s career. What good would it do to tell him that even a hardworking perfectionist had made terrible mistakes?
    Caroline eased forward on the sofa. She reached for her wineglass and stood, seeing the concern in Pete’s eyes. “I’ll go give Marjorie a hand in the kitchen.”
    In the dining room she paused, recalling one of the awful conversations she’d had with Pete in his office after Harry had died.
    â€œYou knew nothing about this?” Pete had stared at her across his desk, all glass and chrome. Harry’s old office, just down the hall, had been traditional, with mahogany furniture, a leather chair, and photographs of Caroline and Rob on the desk.
    â€œI knew he was excited about Avistar.” She admitted her ignorance about Harry’s work beyond that.
    â€œHe’d had several bad years and knew he had to turn it around. Most of his older clients were loyal, but I’m afraid his performance was all there in black and white.”
    â€œBut he worked so hard,” Caroline said.
    â€œSome of it’s luck.” Pete turned away. He seemed embarrassed.
    â€œI’ve been through everything at home. There’s almost nothing. Just the shares in Avistar.”
    â€œThey went belly-up in September.”
    â€œJust like that?” She was breathless. Harry had told her nothing.
    â€œIt was actually a slow downhill spiral. Harry insisted it would turn around.” Pete looked so annoyingly vital.
    â€œWhat about his shares in the firm?” Caroline’s voice quavered. She swallowed. “He’s been here for so long.”
    â€œHe’d been cashing out. He took the last of it in September.” Pete came around the desk. He put a hand on her shoulder. “He must have said something.”
    Caroline’s mind raced. She recalled flashes of Harry’s anger when she’d asked about his work. How long had it been like that? This entire situation was so trite. She felt like the idiot wife who’d lived her pretty life, being a good mother, working in her garden, cooking, writing about food.
    She hunched forward. “There’s still money in our checking account,” she said.
    â€œThat’s not going to last long. I can help you.” Pete crouched beside her and placed his hand on her back. She lowered her head. “I’ve got a client who might be interested in buying your house,” he