Chapter 6: The Choice Eric Had To Make
The room felt smaller after Eric said those words.
“Jessica?””
I repeated her name.
Eric stared at the letter.
His fingers tightened around the paper.
Thomas remained silent.
He had always been good at that.
Knowing when people needed space.
“Eric,” I said softly.
He looked up.
“I didn’t know how to tell you.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“What does that mean?””
He closed his eyes.
“I found out something before the wedding.””
My heart sank.
“Found out what?””
He looked at Thomas.
Then back at me.
“Jessica wasn’t honest about why she wanted the cabin.””
I sat down slowly.
The chair beneath me suddenly felt unfamiliar.
“She wanted the cabin?””
Eric nodded.
“At first, I thought she just loved it.””
I almost laughed.
“Everyone loves something they didn’t have to maintain.””
He looked ashamed.
“I should have listened.””
Thomas opened the file in front of him.
“Frank documented his concerns.””
“Documented?””
“Yes.””
Eric looked confused.
“Dad was investigating my wife?””
“No,” Thomas said.
“He was protecting his family.””
I looked at the papers.
Not documents about money.
Not contracts.
Notes.
Frank’s notes.
His handwriting.
His thoughts.
I could almost hear his voice.
Linda,
Pay attention to actions, not promises.
My eyes filled.
Because Frank knew something I refused to accept.
Love can make you ignore warnings.
Thomas looked at Eric.
“Your father noticed that Jessica frequently asked questions about the property.””
Eric nodded slowly.
“She asked about taxes. The land value. The future.””
“And you didn’t think that was strange?””
“I thought she was interested in our family.””
The pain in his voice was real.
For the first time, I saw something other than defensiveness.
I saw regret.
Thomas continued.
“Frank also noticed something else.””
“What?””
“He noticed your son had started changing.””
Eric looked down.
The silence said enough.
I remembered.
Small things.
Eric stopped visiting as often.
Stopped calling.
Stopped asking about the lake.
Stopped mentioning his father.
I blamed work.
I blamed marriage.
I blamed life.
Maybe I should have looked closer.
“Mom,” Eric whispered.
I looked at him.
“I’m sorry.””
Two words.
Simple.
But they carried years of distance.
I wanted to hug him.
Every part of me wanted to.
But I stayed still.
Because forgiveness and trust were not the same thing.
“I need to know something,” I said.
He nodded.
“What?””
“When Jessica asked me to leave last night…”
I paused.
“Was that her idea?””
Eric looked uncomfortable.
Then he answered honestly.
“Yes.””
That hurt.
Even though I expected it.
“She said if everyone stayed here, it would be easier to convince you.””
“Convince me?””
“To transfer ownership.””
My hands went cold.
“She planned this.””
Eric nodded.
“She said you were emotional after Dad died. She said eventually you would understand.””
I looked out the window.
The lake was peaceful.
Almost cruelly peaceful.
“Did you believe her?””
Eric didn’t answer.
And that was answer enough.
Thomas closed the file.
“There is still one decision left.””
Eric looked at him.
“What decision?””
“Whether you protect the cabin…”
Thomas paused.
“Or protect your marriage.””
Eric looked confused.
“What do you mean?””
Thomas pushed another envelope forward.
“This contains evidence your father collected.””
“Evidence of what?””
Thomas looked at me.
Then at Eric.
“Evidence that Jessica’s family has been planning something much bigger than a weekend visit.””
My heart started beating faster.
Eric slowly opened the envelope.
He pulled out the first page.
His face changed.
Then the second.
Then the third.
Finally, he whispered:
“She wasn’t trying to take the cabin.””
I leaned forward.
“What was she trying to take?””
Eric looked at me.
His eyes were filled with disbelief.
May you like
Then he said the words that changed everything.
“She was trying to make sure you never owned anything again.””
