Nolan shook his head, still staring at the document. “She never said anything.”
“I apologize for my associate who telephoned yesterday,” Francesca said, looking slightly annoyed. “He should have consulted with me before calling you. I wanted to convey the information in person, in case Gail had decided against telling you.”
“That’s okay,” Nolan said, then his eyes widened and he stiffened. “A million dollars! Good Lord! That can’t be right.”
“That’s the amount of the policy,” Francesca said, “and I assure you, it’s correct. I talked with Gail and processed the application myself. She was adamant that if something happened to her, you wouldn’t have to worry about the future.”
Nolan’s eyes reddened and he sniffed. “She wanted me to be able to live independently.”
Francesca nodded. “Although so many of the facilities designed to assist people in your situation are extraordinarily nice, Gail knew that you preferred your own space. She wanted to make sure that if anything happened, your independence wasn’t jeopardized.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Nolan said. “It’s so overwhelming. I had no idea that she’d done this, but then it doesn’t surprise me, either. Gail always put my needs before her own. She was a wonderful woman.”
He teared up again and Francesca put her hand on his arm. “She was indeed a wonderful woman, and she’ll be missed in New Orleans. Unless you have any more questions for me, I’m going to get out of your way.”
“I don’t think I have any questions,” Nolan said. “Can you guys think of anything?” He looked at the three of us.
“It seems very straightforward,” Ida Belle said.
Francesca rose from the table. “If you think of anything later on, please don’t hesitate to call me.”
Nolan nodded. “Thank you.”
As Francesca started out of the kitchen, I jumped up and headed out behind her, figuring I’d see her to the front door. That was a Southern hospitality thing, right? That was my excuse, anyway. The real reason I wanted out of the kitchen is because crying made me uncomfortable, especially now that I’d discovered it myself.
When she stepped out onto the porch, Francesca turned and shook my hand. “I didn’t get your name…”
“Everyone calls me Fortune,” I said.
She smiled. “That’s a nice nickname. I didn’t want to say this to Nolan as he seemed a bit ragged, but if he needs any assistance finding a medical aide or would like to transfer to a facility while he’s thinking over his options, I am happy to assist with that. I have a lot of connections and can recommend the best of just about anything in that field.”
“Thanks,” I said. “When he’s a little more settled, I’ll let him know.”
“Great. Call me if you need anything.” She headed down the steps and hopped into a silver Honda Accord.
I went back inside, hoping that Nolan had processed this new set of information and was feeling better.
Apparently, Gertie had persuaded Nolan to eat something, because she was placing a pan in the oven and had a glass bowl in the microwave. I noticed she had a dishrag tied around her ankle. Nolan sat staring at the insurance documents, still looking a bit stunned.
Ida Belle sat at the table, looking at Nolan and wearing a slight frown. I wondered what she was thinking.
“Well,” I said, eager to break the silence in the kitchen, “that was unexpected good news, right?”
“Very good news,” Gertie said.
Nolan shook his head. “I’m still trying to take it all in. So much has happened…”
“Don’t worry about trying to process it all,” Gertie said. “Just take one day and one task at a time. That’s the easiest way to get through difficult times.”
“I know you’re right,” Nolan said, still staring down at the table. “After my accident, I tried to rush everything—tried to do too much with too little—and ended up setting myself back both physically and mentally instead of moving forward. It was a hard lesson to learn, especially when it meant admitting that I couldn’t take care of myself without help and might never be able to.”
He looked up us. “My first wife left me after the accident. She tried, but my future was nothing like the life we had planned. We were outdoors people from California. Camping, hiking, white-water rafting, rock climbing…anything that was outside and required a lot of physical exertion, we were up for it. If she’d remained with me, all of that would have been sacrificed.”
“That may be true,” Gertie said, “but you were her husband. Her partner in life.”
Nolan nodded. “Oh, I resented her at first. The whole ‘in sickness and in health’ thing, but I eventually came to realize it was for the best. If someone stays for any reason other than they want to be there, it will only lead to resentment. And then what do you have?”