I stared at her. “Who told you?”
“Marlene. She’s been stewing for two weeks. He’s been in a state.” Ada folded her hands in her lap. “I didn’t raise him to do that, Karen. I want you to know. Whatever he’s told you, I didn’t.”
“I know.”
“He’s frightened of you. Did you know that?”
I hadn’t.
“He thinks you’ll take the place away. That you’ll sell it and leave him with nothing. He’s never owned an acre in his life, and he’s fifty-six.” She shook her head slowly. “Tom should have given him a share. I told him so. But Tom said Dwayne would only sell it.”
“Tom was probably right.”
“Probably. But it left a splinter.” She looked at me, and her eyes were Tom’s eyes, pale gray and steady. “I don’t ask you to forgive him. I only ask that you don’t slam the door.”
