Chapter 13
Caleb accepted the manila envelope, turning it over in his hands while looking out toward the crashing Atlantic waves. "What does the federal court want me to do with a crumbling mansion full of toxic memories?"
"The district attorney's office recommends turning it over to a public trust or liquidating it for additional charitable grants," Brody suggested professionally. "You have absolute legal ownership to do whatever you see fit."
"Liquidate every brick and square foot of it," Caleb stated without a moment's hesitation. "Convert the entire proceeds into permanent educational grants for families escaping abusive domestic environments."
Agent Brody nodded approvingly, taking the signed document back from Caleb with a respectful salute. "Consider it done, Sergeant. That is poetry in motion for a very dark chapter."
"It's not poetry, Agent Brody; it's simply turning ash into fertile soil," Caleb replied softly, watching the federal vehicle turn around and head back down the coastal highway.
He walked back into the cottage, finding Sarah in her sunlit studio mixing oil paints on her wooden palette. She looked up as he entered, her dark eyes sparkling with creative energy and radiant health.
"Who was at the gate, honey?" Sarah asked, dabbing a brush onto a canvas depicting the rocky cliffs.
May you like
"Just the final piece of the past, Sarah," Caleb smiled gently, walking over to wrap his arms around her waist. "We just liquidated the last remnant of the old estate to fund college scholarships for abuse survivors."
Sarah stopped painting, turning around to throw her arms around his neck with an expression of pure, shining love. "That is the most wonderful thing you could have possibly done, Caleb."
