Chapter 4: The Choice Leanne Had Feared
Leanne’s hand rose toward the envelope, then stopped.
“You said Dad left that money for my future.”
“He did,” Margaret replied.
“Which is why I won’t let you waste it while people manipulate you.”
Daniel stepped between them.
“No one here is manipulating her except you.”
Margaret slid the envelope into her handbag.
“You’ve been her husband for three weeks.
I knew her before you could spell her name.”
“And I know what she sounds like when she wakes at two in the morning believing she ruined her own wedding.”
Leanne turned on him.
“You promised not to tell anyone.”
“I promised not to shame you.
I didn’t promise to let her use your shame against you.”
Ben tugged at my sleeve.
“Can we leave now?”
“Yes.”
I put my arm around him, but Leanne’s voice stopped me.
“Mom, wait.”
Ben’s fingers tightened around mine.
“I’m taking him home.”
“Then you’re choosing him again.”
The words came out before Leanne could catch them.
She closed her eyes, but they had already landed.
I could not seem to draw a full breath.
Daniel took one step toward me.
“She didn’t mean it that way.”
“Yes, I did,” Leanne said.
“Just not the way it sounded.”
“How else could it sound?” I asked.
“I wanted you to stay and hear me.
Once.
Just once.”
“You wanted me to leave a crying child at a wedding.”
“I wanted my mother.”
“I was standing right there.”
“No.
Ben’s mother was standing there.”
My knees weakened, and I gripped the back of the bench.
Ben moved in front of me as though his small body could hold me upright.
“Stop making her cry.”
Leanne’s face folded.
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry doesn’t make people feel safe,” Ben said.
“You have to do something.”
Daniel crouched so his eyes were level with Ben’s.
“You’re right.
What would help right now?”
Ben looked at Leanne.
“Tell the truth without blaming me.”
Leanne sat on the bench.
“When Dad was gone, Mom cried behind the bathroom door because she thought I couldn’t hear.
I stopped asking her for things.”
I sat at the opposite end.
“You never had to stop.”
“But I did.
Then you started fostering, and you smiled again.”
“Leanne—”
“I was glad you smiled.
I hated why.”
The admission left her shaking.
Daniel took off his jacket and placed it around her shoulders.
“She kept that inside for six years,” he said.
“Margaret found the wound and pressed on it whenever Leanne tried to accept Ben.”
Margaret gave a bitter laugh.
“You’re making me sound monstrous.”
“You told me Mom had found the child she wished she’d had,” Leanne said.
“I said she seemed happier.”
“You said Dad would have refused the adoption.”
“That was my opinion.”
“You said it was his.”
Margaret glanced toward the path.
“This conversation is finished.”
“No,” I said.
“You used James’s name to punish both my children.
You don’t get to walk away.”
“I have nothing more to say to you.”
Daniel held out his hand.
“Then give Leanne the trust documents.”
“You have no authority.”
“Maybe not.
But Elaine Mercer does.”
Margaret stopped.
Leanne looked up.
“Dad’s estate attorney?”
Daniel nodded.
“I called her after the wedding.”
Margaret’s face changed.
“You had no right.”
“I watched my wife remove her little brother from a photograph because she was afraid of losing money.
I had every right to ask what you were holding over her.”
“You know nothing about the trust.”
“Elaine said Leanne’s inheritance could not be withheld merely because you disapproved of a family relationship.”
Margaret’s fingers closed around her handbag.
“She discussed private documents with you?”
“She refused to discuss details.
But she asked me one question.”
“What question?”
“Whether James ever left Leanne a message about her mother fostering children.”
I stared at him.
“Why would she ask that?”
Daniel took out his phone.
“Because Elaine found a sealed digital file attached to the trust record.
It’s addressed to Leanne.”
Margaret lunged for the phone.
Daniel pulled it back.
“Don’t open it!” she snapped.
May you like
Leanne rose slowly.
“Grandma, how did you know it hadn’t been opened?”
