Somewhere in the house, Bree slammed a door. Paul, Jr. was pacing in the dining room. Marybeth and Momma were doing something in the kitchen. Hands in her laps, head down, Aunt Dorie sat in Dad’s old recliner. She looked up and then back down flipping the gold coin in her fingers.

It was heavy, satisfyingly heavy. Marveling Aunt Dorie tossed the coin in her hand. The edge ridges were pristine. The light sparkled as the coin, her coin, twirled in the air. With her thumb and index finger she explored the golden figure on the coin face. A beautiful woman in gorgeous flowing robes stared back at her. Just like the salesman said holding a coin is holding a masterpiece in miniature. Aunt Dorie listened. Paul, Jr was walking down the hallway probably to argue with Bree. Junior loved to argue just like Paulie. Is only he would listen, Aunt Dorie thought.

Daddy left Momma’s care to her. She had cared for them both for years. The appointments, errands, the urinals, Aunt Dorie had done the caretaking while Paulie was busy with his family, his career. Aunt Dorie always takes care of everything. She had the right to invest her parents’ savings and Jeff was so kind. The golden woman held a sword aloft. Victory or vengeance, Aunt Doris thought as she ran her fingertips over the lustrous heroine.

Momma and Marybeth came into the living room carrying coffee and cookies. Momma’s hands shook and Aunt Dorie reached to help. With hard eyes, Marybeth glared at Aunt Dorie and steadied the cookie plate. The coin tumbled from Aunt Dorie’s lap. Rolling over the area rug, the coin rolled and landed by Bree’s feet. They stood in a semi circle around Aunt Dorie.

Grimacing Bree handed the coin to Paul, Jr. Aunt Dorie fought the urge to grab it. Everyone was looking at her. Her heart began to beat quicker. She thought about her research on gold and silver investing and her many phone calls with nice Jeff. Her investment was safe in a vault in Carson City, Jeff had promised. There’s plenty more where that came from. Aunt Dorie crossed her arms and thought of her shiny coins.