Chapter 12: The Choice Brenda Wanted Me To Make
The police officer spoke with Brenda first.
She stayed calm.
Almost too calm.
That worried me more than anger would have.
People who lose control usually show it.
Brenda didn’t.
She acted like she still had a plan.
After speaking with the officer, she was allowed to leave.
But before she walked away, she looked at me.
Not with hatred.
With confidence.
Like she knew something I didn’t.
That bothered me.
Inside the house, I checked on the girls.
Nia was sitting on the couch.
Ava was beside her.
“Are you okay?””
Nia nodded.
But I could see she was shaken.
“She said she wanted to apologize.””
I sat down.
“What did she say?””
Nia looked down.
“She said you were making a mistake.””
I sighed.
“Of course she did.””
Ava looked at me.
“Dad?””
“Yes?””
“Why does she always make everything confusing?””
That question stayed with me.
Because Ava was right.
Brenda never simply did something wrong.
She created a story around it.
She made people question what they saw.
I spent the next few days organizing everything.
The videos.
The letters.
The notes.
Olivia’s records.
The counselor’s reports.
Everything.
But one thing still bothered me.
The question Brenda asked.
Why did my wife trust her?
I decided to find out.
I visited my father-in-law.
He looked older than before.
Tired.
Like carrying the secret had aged him.
“I owe you the truth,” he said.
I sat down.
“Yes.””
He nodded.
“Your wife did trust Brenda.””
I waited.
“But not forever.””
He explained that after my wife became sick, she needed help.
Brenda offered support.
She helped with small things.
Meals.
Errands.
Company.
“She became important because she was there during a difficult time.””
I understood.
“When did that change?””
“When your wife realized Brenda wasn’t helping.””
He looked down.
“She was replacing.””
I stayed silent.
“She told me Brenda made her uncomfortable.””
“What did you do?””
His eyes filled with regret.
“I dismissed it.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because Brenda was so convincing.””
There it was.
The same trap.
Everyone saw the version Brenda wanted them to see.
My father-in-law continued.
“Your wife wrote that letter because she knew she might not get another chance.””
I swallowed.
“She knew?””
“She knew her condition was getting worse.””
The room became quiet.
“She wanted you to protect Nia.””
I looked down.
“I failed.””
My father-in-law shook his head.
“No.””
He looked at me.
“You found the truth.””
That evening, I returned home.
Nia was sitting outside.
I joined her.
“Dad?””
“Yeah?””
“Do you think Mom knew this would happen?””
I looked at the sky.
“I think your mom knew people are complicated.””
Nia smiled slightly.
“She always said that.””
“She also knew one more thing.””
“What?””
I looked at my daughter.
“That love is not something someone can take away.””
She leaned against my shoulder.
For the first time in weeks, she looked peaceful.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message.
From an unknown number.
I opened it.
One sentence.
“You found the letter. But you still haven’t found the person who helped Brenda.””
I stared at the screen.
Another message appeared.
A photograph followed.
It showed Brenda sitting in a restaurant.
Across from someone.
Someone I recognized.
My heart stopped.
May you like
Because the person sitting across from Brenda…
was someone who had been helping my family the entire time.
