In the months since Mario’s death the four siblings had managed the estate between them and learnt a great deal in the process.
Once their plans were in place it had become obvious that maintaining the place and running it was not a four-person job.
‘There’s a place for sale in town, it got me thinking.’ Lucy put the lunch plates on the table.
‘Go on’ Maria got the cutlery.
‘We could do something new, together just you and me.’
‘What did you have in mind?’
‘Maybe some kind of event planning or marketing or something.’ Lucy poured the wine. ‘We have experience between us. With my management degree and your marketing one I think we’d be able to come up with some decent options.’
‘Is this why you made me lunch?’
‘Can’t a sister do something nice for her sister?’
‘I don’t know. I’ve never had a sister before and neither have you.'
‘What do you think?’
‘It would be good to get away from the boys.’
‘The thing is we might have to use some of our shares in this place to fund it. Maybe like half each. So, we’d have one third between us rather than a quarter each.’
‘I see. I need to think about this. We need to know what we are getting into. Dad wanted us to have equal shares.’
‘Mario was a man who took chances, he told me about them. He wouldn’t have got to where he go to if he hadn’t. I think he might understand us wanting to strike out on our own.’
‘I wish I could talk to him.’
‘Let me know when you do. I understand whatever you decide.'
Lucy left Mario alone.
She decided to go to her father's grave, to ask his advice.