My hand paused on my purse strap. “Arthur was?”
“Yeah, wanted to know if we had them available for the first week of November,” Gary said, ringing up the tape. “He seemed in a terrible hurry.”
“Did he rent them?” I asked.
“He said he’d call back to confirm,” Gary said, sliding the tape across the counter. “Kept checking his gold watch like he was running late for a flight.”
Gary leaned against the register, his eyes curious. “Arthur seemed stressed, Nicole. Usually, he has time to talk about the local football team, but yesterday he barely looked at me.”
I nodded, trying to keep my face completely expressionless. “We have a lot of decisions to make with the estate.”
“Well, don’t let him clear those old Bartlett pear trees,” Gary said, shaking his head. “Those are the best in Oakhaven.”
The total came to thirty-four dollars and twelve cents.
I handed him the cash, my chest tightening as I realized my brother was already planning to clear the trees before the probate court had even reviewed our father’s wishes.
