“What happens now?”
“We’re moving forward with charges. Fraud and forgery. Your home sale is frozen, and we’re restoring everything in your name. If you want to testify, we’d be glad for it, but you don’t have to. We have enough evidence to prosecute.”
“You were grieving, Martha.”
I wiped my eyes, voice trembling. “Thank you. I thought no one would believe me.”
“Your neighbor Ruth kept asking questions. And the bank. Tessa, the loan officer. She noticed, too. You weren’t alone, even when it felt like it.”
***
Two days later, Ruth called me again.
“They came to the house, Martha,” she said. “Police cars. Right out front.”
I held my breath.
“Lila walked out in cuffs,” Ruth finished. “Brock tried to slip out the side like he didn’t know her. The whole street saw.”
“They came to the house, Martha.”
***
A week later, Ruth met me at the door of my house, holding a casserole and a bouquet of lilacs. “Welcome home, Martha! I told your garden you’d be back.”
“Did it listen?” I laughed.
“It did. But your roses are sulking. You need to scold them.”
I stepped inside, the familiar hush wrapping around me. I ran my fingers over the kitchen counter, tracing the groove where Everett carved his initials.
The house was quiet. No Lila, no Brock, just sunlight and the memory of my son.
“Welcome home, Martha!”
Later that afternoon, Officer Reed stopped by with a stack of documents.
“It’s official now. The title, the deed, everything is yours again. No one can take this from you, Martha.”
After they left, I went to the backyard and planted marigolds for Everett. Inside, I rested my hand on the old counter, finally feeling at peace.
I didn’t win. But I am home.
I pressed my palm to the counter and finally let myself breathe.
But I am home.
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