Chapter 4 - What Nora Hid Behind the Water Heater
Claire came out of the kitchen.
"Mom. Was that actually him?"
Nora had wanted them to know the truth. So that's exactly what I was going to give them.
"I'll tell you everything," I said. "But first, come downstairs with me."
I took her hand and led her down to the basement, to the water heater in the corner. My fingers found the taped bundle right where the letter said it would be, under the bottom shelf, soft with dust.
Inside were texts printed out, handwritten letters, sticky notes — a paper trail of every time Nora had tried to reach Preston. There were a few replies from him too, mostly short lines about finding a time to "talk in person" that never seemed to happen.
Back upstairs, I laid it all on the kitchen table in front of Claire and set Nora's letter on top.
"Read these," I said. "All of it. Before you decide one thing about that man."
She read the letter first. Then she started working through the stack, page by page, her jaw getting tighter with each one.
"He ignored her," she said finally. "This one's dated after she was already sick. She tried again when she knew she was dying, and he still didn't show."
"He did admit he abandoned you," I said. "Just now, on the porch. I'll give him that much."
"He also offered to pay for college. For all four of you."
"'While I try to earn back what money can't cover.' Those were his exact words." Claire looked up at me. "You think he's trying to buy us?"
"I don't know. That's what scares me. I keep asking myself what he actually gets out of this."
She stared down at her mother's handwriting for a long moment.
"I want to go to the gala."
"Claire—"
"Mom asked you to give him a chance. Didn't she?"
I didn't answer.
"I want to give him one too," she said. "That doesn't mean I trust him. He doesn't get that until he earns it."
I called the other three girls inside and let Claire walk them through it. They passed the papers around the table, reading in silence.
"I'm going Saturday," Claire told them. "But I'm not making any of you come with me."
The second-oldest looked at her. "And if it feels wrong once we're there?"
"Then we leave," Claire said. "All of us. Together."
One by one they said yes. Nervous, guarded, but in.
May you like
"Then I'm coming too," I said.
Claire squeezed my hand. "Obviously."
