Chapter 19 - The Dock Rebuilt
The dock was rebuilt in June. We replaced the loose boards, installed a safer ramp, repaired the boathouse ladder, and put a new bell where Robert's old one had hung. Deputy Grant inspected the work and made sure the safety equipment was visible from the shore. The wildlife camera was mounted again, this time with the memory card backed up in two secure places.
The trust administrator returned the recovered funds that could be traced and filed claims against the accounts used by Morrow Consulting. The house remained mine. Mara helped me update the trust so no single family member could control it without independent oversight. I chose a local nonprofit to manage the swimming program and required annual audits.
Wren decided to study nursing at a college two hours away. She said she wanted to learn how to help people who were frightened and didn't know how to ask for help. I told her Robert would have been proud. She smiled, then looked out at the water.
On the first day of summer lessons, a group of children gathered on the shore. Wren held Robert's old whistle around her neck. I sat beside the dock, watching the water shimmer in the afternoon light.
Then a car stopped on the road. For one brief moment, my body went rigid.
It was only Mara, carrying a folder and two cups of coffee. She sat beside me and handed me one.
"The final property order came through," she said. "No more sale attempts. No more guardianship petition."
May you like
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.
For the first time, the pond looked like water again, not a grave.
