Chapter 19 - After She Wins
Nora waited a week before opening the envelope.
She had learned something from her father after all.
Not every secret had to be opened immediately.
When she finally did, Sophie was asleep on the couch with one sock missing.
Alma sat at the kitchen table eating toast over the sink because she refused to use a plate for "one piece."
Peter's letter was three pages.
The first page was an apology.
Not for dying.
For turning Nora into an heir before asking whether she wanted the burden.
The second page listed names of employees Peter trusted.
Some had retired.
One was dead.
Two had helped Nora during the restructuring without knowing Peter had named them.
The third page was only six lines.
If you beat Celeste, do not become her to prove you deserved to win.
Do not confuse control with safety.
Do not make Sophie carry this company just because we did.
And please, for once in this family, sell the damn boat.
Nora laughed so hard she woke Sophie.
Alma took the letter.
"He hated that boat."
"Apparently."
The next morning Nora sold Peter's old fishing boat to a mechanic for one dollar.
Leah called it legally ridiculous.
Nora called it emotionally efficient.
A year after the cliff, Nora returned to Grayhaven Ridge.
Not alone.
Alma drove.
"This is a bad idea," Alma said.
"Probably."
"Good. We agree."
The state had installed a steel guardrail after the crash.
Nora stood behind it with Sophie on her hip.
Far below, new trees grew around the scar in the slope where the sedan had fallen.
Nora's hands still trembled.
She did not force them to stop.
A car approached behind them.
Alma turned sharply.
Nora did too.
A black sedan pulled over.
Detective Rourke stepped out.
"Sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to scare you."
Nora exhaled.
"You did."
Rourke held up an evidence envelope.
"We recovered something from the wreck during final cleanup."
Inside was the sedan's dashcam memory card.
Nora stared at it.
They had believed the camera destroyed.
Rourke said, "It contains audio from before the first impact."
Alma looked at Nora.
Nora already knew she did not want to hear it.
May you like
Then Rourke added, "There's another voice on it.
