Chapter 16 - What My Mother Knew
Mom had known Grandma was afraid.
Not everything.
But enough.
The night before Grandma died, Evelyn called her.
She said Dad and Caleb were stealing.
She said documents were hidden.
She asked Mom to drive her to the police station the next morning.
Mom promised she would.
Then Dad came home.
He found out about the call.
“He told me your grandmother was confused.”
Mom’s voice cracked.
“He said if I accused him, he would leave.”
“So you did nothing.”
“Yes.”
The next morning Grandma was dead.
Mom spent four years convincing herself it had been natural.
I wanted to scream at her.
Instead, I asked one question.
“Why did you help Dad throw me out?”
She looked destroyed.
“Because every time I looked at you, I saw your grandmother.”
“You questioned him.”
“You refused to obey.”
“And I was afraid.”
Her answer did not excuse anything.
But for the first time, I understood her cowardice.
Dad controlled people through greed.
He controlled Mom through fear.
Caleb wanted to use that fear again.
I refused.
“We’re not going to the cabin alone.”
Federal agents prepared a trap.
I would appear to arrive with Mom.
Daniel hated the plan.
“You just gave birth.”
“I know.”
“You are not bait.”
“I’m also the person Caleb has spent four years trying to control.”
Daniel stared at me.
“You don’t have to prove anything.”
“I’m not proving anything.”
“I’m ending it.”
We arrived near midnight under surveillance.
The cabin sat beside a frozen lake.
Mom and I entered.
Caleb stood near the fireplace.
No weapon was visible.
He smiled.
“Grace.”
“You destroyed my family.”
“No.”
“Your father did that beautifully without my help.”
I hated that part of the sentence was true.
Caleb held out a folder.
“Sign over the voting shares.”
“No.”
“Then your mother goes to prison.”
Mom stepped forward.
“No.”
Caleb’s smile faded.
She looked at me.
“I should have protected you years ago.”
Then she turned toward Caleb.
“I’m done being afraid.”
Caleb reached behind his back.
Agents shouted outside.
Daniel’s voice echoed somewhere behind them.
Everything exploded into motion.
Caleb drew a gun.
May you like
Mom moved in front of me.
A shot cracked through the cabin.
