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"It’s wonderful to see you, Mr Collins I hope you had a good trip"
"It was good, Mrs M, and I’m happy to be home"
"In your absence, Mrs Collins has been here several ti sigh "--took things"
He’d expected as much "Don’t worry about it, Mrs M I’ll take care of it"
She frowned, but nodded without pressing any further "Shall I make you a spot of lunch?"
"I ate on the plane Just some coffee in the office, please"
Her footsteps had barely faded down the hallway to the kitchen when Evan noticed the firstdynasty, that had stood on a pedestal in the corner of the entry hall Directly across, the living roo He’d liked that painting, his choice rather than hers Whitney had allowed it in the house only because it orth a fortune He would have to take inventory Whitney should know he had every valuable documented At the same time, however, he found he was numb to the loss of his possessions The lawyers could hash it out
Honestly, the more he looked around his hoe for him This was Whitney’s showpiece, a twelve-bedrooe foyer, a curving staircase like so out of Gone With the Wind, and a tub in the master suite that rivaled the Ro room, an actual ballrooye ho room used for private meals The outdoor pool, Jacuzzi, and tennis courts were just beyond the forinable and exquisite roses his gardener tended daily Of course, Whitney had spared no expense in furnishings and artwork, which she now seemed to think she was entitled to take At least he could be reasonably assured she wouldn’t rab for the first editions in his collection, since she’d never entered the library
Evan had always spent the bulk of his free tis in that quiet, coe over an excellent bottle of wine He’d enjoyed those nights far alas Whitney had insisted they attend--and throw
Now that Whitney was gone, he didn’t need twelve bedrooe A new start He should sell the da and buy a flat in San Francisco where he wouldn’t have to commute to his headquarters
But if he did that, he’d be too far away froe, who lived just a few ht discussions about books, no shared bottle of wine, no more spontaneous weekend visits
And nolike this Needed to stop wanting like this