By eight-thirty, most guests were gathering coats or moving toward the bar, leaving the immediate family around the large table by the windows.
That was when Patricia started talking about their house in Dublin.
She mentioned how much the neighborhood had changed since she and Richard bought there. Richard complained about property taxes, and Susan, Mark’s older sister, teased him that complaining about taxes had become his favorite retirement hobby.
Then Patricia said almost casually, “Actually, your father and I finally updated the estate documents.”
That got everyone’s attention.
Susan lowered her coffee. “Well, that sounds cheerful for an anniversary.”
Patricia laughed. “Oh, stop. We’re not dying. We’re planning.”
Richard leaned back. “Your mother’s been after me about it for two years.”
Patricia ignored him and explained that between the house, investments, retirement accounts, and savings, their estate was worth roughly five million dollars.
I knew my in-laws were comfortable.
