Chapter 7: The Memory She Stole
I didn’t understand what Terrence meant.
“What did she take from Walter?””
My son looked toward the window.
The same window Walter used to sit beside every morning with his coffee.
“I found out after Dad died.””
I froze.
“Found out what?””
Terrence rubbed his hands together.
“Lennox knew Dad was sick before you did.””
My heart stopped.
“That’s impossible.””
“She overheard his conversation with the doctor.””
I stared.
“Why would she hide that?””
Terrence looked ashamed.
“Because she wanted to know what was in his will.””
The words landed harder than anything else.
Walter.
My Walter.
The man who spent forty-one years loving me.
The man who worried about leaving me secure.
“You’re lying.””
“I wish I was.””
I stood.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I was ashamed.””
“No.””
My voice cracked.
“You were scared.””
“Yes.””
He looked at me.
“I was scared of losing my marriage.””
“And you thought keeping secrets would save it?””
He looked down.
“No.””
I walked to Walter’s desk.
“What did she take?””
Terrence followed.
“Dad had an old watch.””
I looked at him.
“The gold one?””
He nodded.
Walter’s father gave him that watch.
Walter wore it on our wedding day.
He wore it when Terrence was born.
He wore it the last time we danced in the kitchen.
“That watch was worth maybe fifteen thousand dollars,” Terrence said.
“It wasn’t about the money.””
“I know.””
“Where is it?””
He hesitated.
“Lennox sold it.””
I closed my eyes.
For a moment, I was back in the hospital.
Walter’s hand in mine.
His voice weak.
“Take care of our boy.””
I had promised.
And I had.
Maybe too much.
“When?””
“Six months after Dad died.””
I turned.
“And you knew?””
“I found out later.””
“How?””
Terrence looked away.
“She told me.””
“She told you?””
“She said we needed money.””
My voice became quiet.
“Money for what?””
He didn’t answer.
I already knew.
Lennox.
Always Lennox.
Always something she wanted.
The next morning, I made a decision.
I called an attorney.
Not because I wanted revenge.
Because I wanted protection.
The attorney, Rebecca Mills, arrived that afternoon.
She was younger than I expected.
Sharp eyes.
Calm voice.
After reviewing the documents, she looked at me.
“Mrs. Carter, I want to ask you something.””
“Okay.””
“Do you want your son removed from your life?””
The question surprised me.
“No.””
She nodded.
“Then we need to separate him from his wife’s actions while still holding him accountable for his choices.””
That was exactly what I needed to hear.
Because love and consequences could exist together.
Rebecca turned to Terrence.
“Did you sign anything related to your mother’s property?””
“No.””
“Did you discuss transferring ownership?””
“Yes.””
“Did your wife pressure you?””
He looked at the floor.
“Yes.””
“Did you participate?””
The silence was painful.
Finally:
“Yes.””
I looked away.
Because honesty hurt.
But lies hurt more.
Rebecca continued.
“Then the first thing we do is protect the property.””
That evening, Lennox confronted me.
She waited until Terrence left for the store.
“You called a lawyer.””
I looked at her.
“Yes.””
She smiled.
“I knew you would.””
“You planned for this?””
“I know people like you.””
“People like me?””
“Women who think they’re the victim.””
I stared.
“You slapped me.””
“And you’re still talking about that?””
I couldn’t believe her.
“Yes.””
“Because you want everyone to hate me.””
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“Because you want everyone to forget what you did.””
Her expression changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
“You think you won.””
“No.””
I looked at her.
“I think you made one mistake.””
“What?””
“You underestimated how much Walter taught me.””
She laughed.
“Your dead husband?””
The room went cold.
I walked toward her.
“Never speak about him like that.””
For the first time, she stepped back.
Because she saw something different in me.
Not anger.
Strength.
Then my phone rang.
Rebecca.
I answered.
Her voice was serious.
“Mrs. Carter, I found something.””
“What?””
“There’s a second account connected to the money.””
I looked at Lennox.
“What kind of account?””
Rebecca paused.
“An account opened under a name you’ll recognize.””
“Whose?””
Her answer made me grip the phone tighter.
“Your son’s.””
I looked at Terrence’s empty chair.
May you like
And realized there was still one secret left.
One secret my son had not told me.
