CHAPTER 8: Celeste's Smile Finds No Witness

Celeste tried to save herself with grief.
She pressed one gloved hand to her chest and looked around as though the room should rush to protect her from the cruelty of documents. A younger guest might have believed her. An older room did not move so quickly.
'Adrian was confused,' she said. 'Everyone knows he was confused near the end.'
Eleanor heard the insult hidden inside the pity and felt something in her become very calm.
'He knew the name of every nurse,' she said. 'He knew which window faced the cedar trees. He knew you wore the same perfume as the woman who forged his pharmacy authorization.'
Celeste's expression tightened. It was a small change, but every person in the first three pews saw it.
One of Adrian's attorneys stepped into the aisle. He carried a narrow black folder under one arm.
'Mrs. Vale,' he said to Eleanor, not Julian, not Celeste, 'your son asked that you receive this after the public letter.'
Eleanor stood slowly. The chapel allowed it. Even the rain seemed to soften on the glass.