Page 79 of Wild Goose Chase

“Fifty-three years ago, Ora, I promised you that Albus would be yours when he was dead.” Uncle John kneeled on the floor at her feet as if proposing. It was a romantic gesture, Vera supposed, though she also knew she would probably be the one who would have to help him get back up when this was over. “I might be a few years late, but here he is, my love.”

“How did you—”

“Ah. Best you not know.” He smiled at her sheepishly. “Perhaps I am still a pathetic scoundrel, but I’m also still yours.”

Tears filled her eyes. “You absolutely absurd man,” she said with clear affection. “But you know we cannot keep this.”

“Why not? It’s only what you’re owed. Consider it your final revenge on that bastard.”

Aunt Ora took Uncle John’s wrinkled hands in hers. “My final revenge was that I lived a happy life, full of professional successes beyond my wildest dreams and more love than I could ever hope for, while Guy Ledford died alone, leaving no legacy beyond being associated with this singular goose. How petty it would be to take even that away from him…” She trailed off,transfixed on the bird standing eerily still on its wooden platform in the middle of the living room until Uncle John raised her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss to her knuckles, seemingly pulling her from the memories inside which she’d become momentarily lost.

Suddenly her great-aunt’s lips stretched into a giddy smile that Vera recognized as the same expression as the one in the wedding portrait hanging nearby in the hallway.

“Then again,” Ora said, “fuckhim.”