Of course, such contentment cannot last forever. On one terrible morning, Harry received a summons from Dr. Hutchins’ maid, calling for him immediately. As Dr. Hutchins was not only Harry’s employer and mentor, but also somewhat of a father figure, Harry did not hesitate to comply. When he reached the Hutchins house in town, he was distraught to find Dr. Hutchins lying on his deathbed.

Harry knew that there was nothing he could do to save Dr. Hutchins — he was quite old and beyond medical help. All he could do was stay by his side and try to give him some kind of comfort in his last hours of life. Dr. Hutchins had family in town — namely his daughter Regina, her husband Percy, and their daughter Josephine, but they had gone to the city for the season and would not be returning for weeks.

While sitting with Dr. Hutchins, Harry was reminded of his first wife, April. After all, she had been Dr. Hutchins’ niece, and it was Dr. Hutchins who had introduced her to him so long ago. It seemed like another lifetime to Harry. He thought about how much he had accomplished since he had come to May Green, and how he owed so much of it to the once-robust man who lay diminishing before him.

By dusk, Dr. Hutchins had passed away. Harry was despondent, to say the least.

The funeral followed a few days later, with nearly everyone in town showing up to mourn the loss of May Green’s finest physician. Even Regina and Percy came back from the city to grieve, as was proper, though Regina seemed more concerned about where her father’s money would go. Even though she and Percy had plenty of money, it was never quite enough, and if her father had left them the right amount, then they would finally be as rich as the Haddaways.

Alas for poor, money-grubbing Regina, it was not to be, as Dr. Hutchins had left her only an eighth of his estate. Another eighth went to Harry Brayton, and the rest went to the May Green Hospital, which was promptly renamed the Hutchins Memorial Hospital.

Harry became the new head physician of the hospital, though he settled into the position uneasily. It was exactly what he had been working towards all his life, but he missed Dr. Hutchins acutely and worried that he wouldn’t be able to fill the kindly old doctor’s shoes.

He also had no idea how to spend his inheritance. He pondered donating it to the hospital, but Arthur gave him another idea.

“Dr. Hutchins already gave the hospital most of his estate, Father,” Arthur said, sounding more like a seasoned businessman than a schoolboy. “If he wanted your share to go to the hospital, he wouldn’t have given it to you. I think he meant for you to spend it on yourself. Or us!”

Harry had to chuckle at his son’s shrewdness. “Very well then. What do you think we should spend it on?”

Arthur thought a moment, then opened his eyes wide. “I have a grand idea, Father! You should tear this old shack down and build a proper house! Something nice and big, with lots of room for me and Frederick and Cecily to play.”

Harry laughed. “That’s a grand idea indeed! I’m not sure we can afford to build a mansion just now, but perhaps it can be a work in progress. Hmm, yes…”

Arthur grinned as he watched the wheels turning behind his father’s eyes. He had hated the Brayton Hill house for as long as he could remember — it was far too dark and gloomy, and he heard strange noises at night. Yes, he would be overjoyed to see it all crumble to the ground, and a splendid new house — spacious, with tall windows — put up in its place.

Within a year, Arthur got his wish. It wasn’t finished yet — Harry had run out of money before much of the second story could be floored and wallpapered — but it definitely had lots of room for Arthur to play.

And play he did.