Chapter 9 - Rebecca's Tape

Rebecca had left more than photographs.

Inside the cabin attic, Caleb found a box of old miniDV tapes.

Family videos.

Christmas mornings.

Evan's first steps.

Daniel laughing before grief changed him.

One tape was labeled FOR EVAN - IF I DON'T GET BETTER.

Rebecca had been dying from cancer.

She recorded a message for her son.

Evan was too young to remember.

Daniel apparently never showed it to him.

On the screen, Rebecca wore a headscarf.

She looked tired.

Happy.

"Hi, bug."

Evan broke instantly.

He covered his face.

Rebecca told him about the cabin.

"It is not mine."

"It is not Daddy's."

"It is yours someday."

She explained Elaine was helping protect it during a difficult business period.

Then she said.

"Aunt Elaine loves you."

"But grown-ups can love you and still make mistakes."

Evan lowered his hands.

Rebecca continued.

"If anyone ever tells you that love means choosing them against someone else, be careful."

I stopped breathing.

It felt impossible.

As if a dead woman had predicted the exact weapon used against her son.

Rebecca spoke about Daniel.

She asked Evan to forgive his father for not being perfect.

Then she said.

"If Daddy loves someone after me, don't punish her for surviving longer than I did."

Evan sobbed.

I sat beside him.

Not touching.

He leaned against me first.

For years, Elaine had told him Rebecca would hate me.

Rebecca had said the opposite.

That tape destroyed the foundation of Elaine's manipulation.

Then a second recording surfaced.

Not Rebecca.

Daniel.

Recorded two weeks before his death.

He looked into the camera.

"Elaine knows I found the loans."

"I'm changing the trustee."

"If anything happens to me, Sarah is not responsible."

Caleb paused the video.

Evan stared.

Daniel continued.

"Elaine will try to use my son."

"Do not let her."

Evan whispered.

"Dad knew."

Caleb nodded.

"He knew enough."

"Then why didn't he stop her?"

No one answered immediately.

Finally I did.

"Because adults make the mistake of thinking they have more time."

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That answer hurt all of us.