Chapter 9 - What Nora Left Behind
Kira remembered an old atlas on the highest shelf in the reading room. Nora had used it for family road trips, leaving notes in the margins. When Elaine tried to destroy a letter, Kira had slipped it between its pages, hoping Wren might find it someday.
"Why not take it with you?" Hannah asked.
"I was afraid they'd accuse me of stealing again. I couldn't prove what it was."
Priya arranged for me to collect Wren's belongings with a police escort. Celia had been advised not to contact Wren, and I wouldn't risk another private confrontation.
The house smelled of lemon cleaner. Everything was arranged exactly as before, including the little chair at the kitchen island. I couldn't look at it for long.
An officer stayed at the hallway while I opened the reading room. The atlas was there, heavy and faded, its spine cracked at the word NORTH.
Inside was a folded page in Nora's handwriting.
My dearest Wren, it began. This house by the water is not a prize anyone gets for being the loudest. It's a place for you to decide what to do with when you're grown. If you want to keep it, keep it. If you want to build something new, do that. I only want you to have a choice.
I read the paragraph twice. There were more lines for me, too.
Mark, your mother asked me to change the trust. I said no. Please don't let anybody turn love into a debt our daughter owes them.
I leaned against the bookshelf. Nora had known something I hadn't wanted to see.
May you like
The officer called from downstairs. "Mr. Ellis? Someone is trying to get into the garage."
Through the window, I saw West Hart carrying two sealed cardboard boxes toward an idling van.
