Chapter 6 - THE HOUSE CAROLINE WANTED
The lake house had belonged to Grace’s grandmother.
Sophie learned to walk on its back porch.
Grace wanted it kept until Sophie was old enough to decide what it meant to her.
Caroline saw eight million dollars.
I drove there with Rachel that afternoon.
The caretaker, Mr. Ellis, met us at the gate.
“You’re early.”
“For what?”
He frowned.
“The appraisal.”
I stopped.
“What appraisal?”
“Your sister scheduled one for tomorrow.”
Rachel swore under her breath.
Inside, nothing had changed.
Grace’s old canoe paddle still hung above the fireplace.
Sophie’s height marks were still penciled on the pantry door.
Then Mr. Ellis handed me an envelope.
“Mrs. Porter asked me to sign this.”
It was a statement claiming the property had become unsafe for a child.
Mold.
Broken railings.
Electrical hazards.
All exaggerated or false.
“Did you sign?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I live here.”
He almost smiled.
Then his face turned serious.
“Someone did break into the boathouse last week.”
My stomach tightened.
“What was taken?”
“Nothing obvious.”
We checked.
One storage cabinet had been forced open.
Inside were Grace’s old family records.
Most were untouched.
One folder was missing.
PROPERTY RESTRICTIONS.
Rachel went pale.
“What?”
“The lake property has a preservation clause.”
“What does that mean?”
“Grace’s grandmother barred sale to developers unless Sophie herself consents after age eighteen.”
I exhaled.
“So Caroline can’t sell it.”
“Not legally.”
“Then why is she trying?”
Rachel looked around.
“Because she may not know about the restriction.”
A car engine sounded outside.
Mr. Ellis went to the window.
A black SUV had stopped at the gate.
Caroline stepped out.
Allison was with her.
I stared.
Allison had told me she was staying at her sister’s house.
Instead, she had driven three hours with Caroline to Sophie’s property.
May you like
Then Allison saw me through the window.
And started crying before I said a word.
