Chapter 8 - Lorraine Finds Garrett’s Second Letter
Lorraine came alone.
I showed her the deed.
The survey.
The timber invoices.
The emails.
She cried when she saw Garrett’s handwriting.
Then she became angry.
Not at Wade.
At Garrett.
“Why didn’t he tell me?”
“Maybe he tried.”
She shook her head.
“He knew Wade and I were close.”
Exactly.
Garrett had probably feared she would warn Wade before he finished
documenting the problem.
That hurt Lorraine.
But grief did not make trust retroactive.
As we searched older files, she recognized a metal cash box from
Garrett’s father.
Inside was a second letter.
This one was addressed to Lorraine.
Mom,
I’m not trying to take Dad’s land from Wade. I’m trying to stop him from
selling something he doesn’t own.
Garrett explained the timber dispute and access-road negotiations.
Then came another revelation.
Their father had intentionally deeded the seventy acres to Garrett
because Wade had already received financial help to start Mercer Timber
Services.
The family division had not been unfair.
It had been planned.
Lorraine knew Wade received money.
She did not know the acreage was intended as Garrett’s equivalent share.
For years, Wade told her Garrett had manipulated their father.
She believed him.
Lorraine covered her face.
“I helped him hate his brother.”
I answered gently.
“Wade made his own choices.”
I was learning not to assign one person responsibility for everyone
May you like
else’s behavior.
Even when anger wanted simplicity.
