Chapter 15 - Garrett Left One Last Recording
A year after Garrett’s death, I finally opened an audio file from the
flash drive.
I had avoided it.
The filename was simply NORA.
Garrett’s voice filled the cabin.
“Hey, Nor.”
I stopped the recording.
Walked outside.
Came back.
Started again.
He said he was making the recording because the fight with Wade had
become uglier than he expected.
He did not think he was going to die.
That mattered.
This was not a supernatural farewell.
It was contingency planning from a man who knew his family.
“If this all blows over, I’m deleting this and you can make fun of me.”
I laughed through tears.
Then his voice softened.
“The land is yours because this is your home. Not because you married
me. Not because you earned it from my family. Because we built our life
there together.”
I covered my mouth.
“And if Wade tells you otherwise, make him show his paperwork.”
Even dead, Garrett knew his brother.
The recording ended with:
“Also, don’t let anybody cut down that stupid crooked pine by the barn.
I like it.”
May you like
I looked through the window.
The crooked pine was still there.
