Chapter 10
Tyler took a plea.
Assault.
Theft.
Cooperation against Marlene.
No contact with me.
Restitution.
Mandatory treatment for substance abuse and anger.
It was not enough.
It was something.
In his statement, he admitted Marlene told him to take money from my purse.
He admitted she promised to “handle Jenna” after dinner.
He admitted she told him I would sign over the cabin if everyone believed I was a thief.
He also admitted something none of us expected.
Marlene had promised him a share of the development sale.
Caleb looked sick when he read it.
“She was going to sell your land and give him money.”
“Yes.”
“And I would have been what?”
I looked at him.
“Useful.”
He closed his eyes.
The word hurt because it fit.
Marlene loved her children by assigning them jobs in her plans.
Tyler was pressure.
Paige was silence.
Caleb was respectability.
George was cover.
I was access.
That night, Caleb came to my room doorway.
He did not cross the threshold.
“Can I ask something?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want me to leave the house?”
I looked at him.
Part of me did.
Part of me didn’t.
“I don’t know.”
He nodded.
“I can stay at Dad’s.”
“George is still living with Marlene?”
“No. He moved to a motel.”
That surprised me.
Caleb continued.
“He says he should have left years ago.”
“Maybe he should have.”
“Yes.”
The honesty kept happening.
Small.
Painful.
Almost annoying.
Caleb packed the next morning.
Before he left, he placed his house key on the counter.
I pushed it back.
“You can keep it.”
His eyes lifted.
“That doesn’t mean things are okay.”
“I know.”
“It means I don’t want to become someone who uses keys as punishment.”
He nodded.
Then left.
The house exhaled.
I cried for an hour.
Then I drove to the cabin.
I sat on the porch, listening to the lake, and whispered to my grandmother, “You were right.”
May you like
The wind moved the chimes.
For once, I let myself believe she heard.
