THE ADVOCATE 383
VOL. 80 PART 3 MAY 2022
“You think? Peter, I think you have just made an assumption that may not
be valid. However, what might have happened if he was alive is what you
lawyers would call moot. The fact is he did not request their return and now
he cannot. So, unless you have something else, I will assume the assets are
mine and will treat them, and the income from them, as such.” The family
members sat aghast, dumbstruck. Who was this strange woman that they
had thought they had known for a lifetime? As if with a stiletto, she had outlawyered
the lawyer, and now was clearly the dominant presence in the
room.
After a pause, Mary addressed her family. “I too have made some family
decisions of which you should be aware. First, let me assure you that by my
will I have left all the property that remains at my death to you on the same
conditions as under your father’s will.
“Second, I intend to engage several investment advisors to tend to the
investments. I will seek your views on who those advisors are to be, but the
final decision will be mine.
“Third, I have listed the house for sale. There are a few pieces of art that
I want to keep, but everything else is yours for the asking. How you select
things is up to you. Anything you do not take will go to auction.
“Now do you have any questions?”
Her daughter Allison asked, “You say you are selling the house. Where
will you go? Have you thought about that?”
“Yes,” Mary said, “I have thought a great deal about that. Indeed, I have
thought about little else for years. I will be moving to Paris.”
“But when you come back, what then?” Allison asked.
“Now you are making an assumption that may not be valid. I have no
present intention to come back.”
With that, she alone rose from the table and said, “And now, about that
dinner … ”