Chapter 6: Locked Out
I reached the house to find Lily and Annie standing on the lawn.
Two men in work clothes were fitting a new lock to my front door.
“Stop,” I said.
“This is my home.”
One man held up a court paper.
“We were told the property belongs to Carter Development under the guarantee.”
“That signature was forged.”
“You’ll need to tell the court.”
Martin’s car stopped at the curb.
He lowered the window but did not get out.
“You could have accepted my offer,” he called.
Lily ran toward him.
“You waited until Mom left.”
“I acted on a legal order.”
“You knew Annie and I would be here.”
Martin looked at Annie.
“None of this would be happening if certain people understood where they belong.”
Annie went pale.
I walked to his window.
“Look at me, Martin.
You threatened two children to frighten me.”
“I protected an estate from an extortion attempt.”
Rachel’s car pulled in behind him.
She jumped out and rushed to Annie.
“This is what I was afraid of,” Annie said.
“Every time we come near them, something gets taken away.”
Rachel cupped her face.
“You are not responsible for what he does.”
Annie turned to me.
“Maybe you wish Mom had never brought me here.”
The words took my legs from under me.
I sat on the front step while the locksmith worked above my shoulder.
“I wish Daniel had told me,” I said.
“I wish Martin hadn’t used you.
But I do not wish you away.”
“You can’t even look at me without seeing what your husband did.”
“You’re right.”
Lily whispered, “Mom.”
I held out my hand to Annie.
“When I look at you, I see his secret.
I’m sorry.
That is my failing, not yours.”
Annie’s lips trembled.
“Then why did you say I was family?”
“Because family is sometimes a truth your heart needs time to catch up with.”
She took my hand.
Rachel sat beside me, and Lily lowered herself onto the grass in front of us.
June arrived carrying the cardboard box.
“My sister owns a small guesthouse.
It’s empty until summer.”
Rachel stared at her.
“You would do that for us?”
“For all of you,” June said.
“I spent years keeping Martin’s books because I needed the job.
Kindness is late, but late is better than never.”
The school principal called Lily’s phone.
“Annie, the concert begins at seven,” Mrs.
Bell said on speaker.
“Are you coming?”
Annie looked at the workers near the door.
“I can’t sing tonight.”
“Yes, you can,” Lily said.
“My dress is inside.”
One locksmith lowered his drill.
“Ma’am, the order allows personal property to be removed.”
Martin opened his car door.
“It does not permit entry after possession has transferred.”
The locksmith stared at him, then handed me the new key.
“You have twenty minutes,” he said.
“I’ll write that the premises were being secured.”
Martin pointed at him.
“You’ll lose this contract.”
“Then I’ll sleep just fine.”
We hurried inside.
Lily lifted the dress from her closet while I packed Daniel’s letters and the silver watch.
June stood at the front window.
“Martin is on the phone.”
“With whom?”
“Someone at the school, I think.”
Annie’s phone chimed.
Mrs.
Bell had sent a message.
DON’T COME TO THE AUDITORIUM.
MARTIN CARTER SAYS POLICE WILL BE WAITING.
Rachel read it twice.
“He told them Annie stole the watch.”
May you like
Lily held the blue dress against Annie’s shaking body.
“Then we’ll go,” she said, “and everyone will see exactly who’s lying.”
