Chapter 12 - What My Father KnewDad spent the night sorting through his emails while Naomi arranged an inventory witness for the storage unit. At sunrise he called and asked me to come alone.
He looked like he hadn't slept. His laptop displayed a message from Vanessa dated October ninth.
SHE WILL NEVER LET GO OF LEAH. THE WORKSHOP IS THE ONLY THING KEEPING US STUCK.
A second message contained a sale brochure and a projected commission payable to Winter Hearth Events. Dad had replied, LET'S DISCUSS AFTER CHRISTMAS.
"So you knew," I said.
"I knew she wanted to sell. I didn't know she'd gone ahead."
"You knew it wasn't hers."
"Yes." His eyes reddened. "I convinced myself she'd cool down if I kept quiet. Every time you complained about her, I told you to be patient. I thought peace meant no arguments."
"It meant no arguments for you," I answered.
He nodded. "I have to live with that."
He showed me another email, this one from Travis Mercer, thanking Vanessa for an introduction to Robert's struggling business. Cedar Bend had offered Dad a small contract repairing the future development's plumbing. He'd accepted a deposit.
"That money came from them?" I asked.
"I can repay it. I've spoken with Naomi about disclosing it. I won't pretend I was an innocent bystander."
For the first time I believed he was telling me the whole truth. It didn't make me ready to forgive him.
Dad closed the laptop. "Vanessa is staying at her sister's. I asked her not to come back while we investigate."
My phone buzzed. A photo showed a handwritten letter with Mom's signature at the bottom.
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VANESSA: WANT YOUR MOTHER'S LAST LETTER? BRING PEARL'S ORIGINAL TRUST DEED TO ME TONIGHT.
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