The Widow's Cabin
Page 22
In the courtroom and the newspapers, I discovered a lot of things about Cole’s childhood that he never told anyone about. Although it doesn’t excuse his behavior, I now understand why he chose to become the man he was. He was born and raised in Beaufort, South Carolina, by a father who was an oyster farmer, and a mother who physically and emotionally abused them both. His mother was responsible for the injury that resulted in his limp, when she broke his leg with a spade.
He had just finished high school when his father finally stood up to his wife, killing her, and then himself. Cole left Beaufort after their deaths and went to the University of Florida. He graduated with honors and later worked for a major luxury hotel chain until he decided to open up his Black Oyster chain of hotels, where he raped women to punish them for his late mother’s cruelty. His past may also have been the reason he is against marriage. He probably believes that it’s the thing that weakens men, just as it did his father.
I push Cole to the back of my mind. A past, however dark, does not give anyone the license to kill and harm others.
All I care about is that the slate has been wiped clean. The court has declared both me and Clark not guilty, and we can live our lives without fear. For Clark’s sake, I’m learning to embrace life, even with the scars on my heart.
When Clark finishes his drink, he hugs me and runs off to play some more.
His laughter floats back to me when he chases after a girl with pigtails. It’s so pure, untainted, but for how long?
I shake my head. I can’t think about it now. When the time comes, I’ll be there to hold him. I will do everything in my power to make sure he knows it was not his fault, that he was manipulated.
I throw back my head and gaze up at the sky, watching the clouds moving and forming shapes.
I think of Cole behind bars. He’s in a high-security prison, serving a life sentence with no chance of parole. His sentencing was easy, especially when Marjorie finally came to her senses and admitted that she had lied for him. With no other defense, Cole confessed to killing Janella and also Denise. They had both threatened to go to the cops to report that he had raped them.
Roland, the corrupt police officer, was caught and jailed, but he was killed by another inmate while awaiting trial.
A week after Cole was locked up forever, Clark and I returned to Willow Creek to try to live a quiet life. It’s our new home now. I decided to keep the name Zoe because the name Meghan was damaged by so much pain.
When Clark finishes playing, we get into our car and drive home.
Three months after Mrs. Foster’s death, her lawyer showed up at my door and shocked me.
Mrs. Foster had left me everything she had owned. The house, some savings, and even the cabin all belong to me now. Maybe deep down, she knew I was innocent. I used some of the money to open up Heaven’s Cakes Bakery, located on the same street as Lemon, where I deliver freshly baked goods every morning. Owning my own bakery or restaurant was something I’ve always dreamed of, and I know it would make Mrs. Foster proud.
It still feels strange now to walk down the path from the gate to the front door. Sometimes I expect Mrs. Foster to walk out.
When Clark is playing video games in his room after lunch, I go to my bedroom and switch on my computer.
After being approached many times by publishers, I’m finally ready to write a book.
It’s almost done, but I left the title for last. With only one chapter left to go, I finally type it in.
The Widow’s Cabin
It’s perfect.
I position my hands on the keyboard again and start to write the epilogue.
Before I can finish, I glance at a box in the corner and my eyes land on a manila envelope I had been dreading to open for a year.
Maybe I’m ready for that too.
The envelope was in a secret safe in the house, just as Brett told me it would be. He said if the cops ever started thinking I was a murderer, it would contain everything I needed to disappear. I had expected to find money and fake passports inside, but when I finally got my hands on it, I knew it was too thin.
I spill the contents onto the bed, but only one sheet of paper slides out. It’s a letter.
Perplexed, I pick it up.
Meghan,
I’m sure you thought you would find something different, something to help you run from the law if the cops find out you killed me. I’m sorry to disappoint you. I cannot give you the escape you need. I asked you to kill me for a reason. It was all in the name of revenge.
The truth is out, Meghan. I know what you did with my father the night before our wedding. He told me everything. He showed me photos. You probably know by now that I did some terrible things, things I’m not proud of. What you don’t know is that you changed me. When I met you, I became a different man, a better man. I gave up my old ways.
I thought you were different, but I was wrong. Like any other woman, you were defenseless to my father’s charms. What hurts the most is that you never told me.
That’s why I did it. I wanted you to commit murder and go to prison. Does that make me evil? I guess it does. I am, after all, my father’s son. Speaking of sons, my father told me Liam is not mine, but his. Did you think I’d never find out?
My father is an evil man, but the one thing he did right in his life is showing me the true colors of the woman I married. I’ll stop here. There’s nothing more to say.
I’d like to wish you a good life, but I’d be lying if I say I want you to be happy. The opposite is true.
I drop the letter to the floor, my mind spinning and my heart breaking all over again.
I know the day Cole told Brett the truth. It was the day he was called out for an emergency and came back a changed man, when he started pulling away from me and Clark. It was the night he asked me to help him die.
“Mommy, Mommy,” Clark calls. “There’s a squirrel in our garden. Come and look.”
“I’m coming.” I bite down on my lip until it stings.
In a daze, I get to my feet, barely able to hold myself up. On my way outside, I reread the letter inside my mind. I’m too shocked to even cry.
I make it to the garden in one piece and pretend to be excited about the squirrel.
Then I return to my room to add the letter to the last chapter of my book. The case may be closed, but I will still make the letter public to further exonerate myself in case there’s anyone out there who ever doubted my innocence.
In the evening, Tasha comes over with her kids for a movie and pizza. The moment she enters the house, I’m reminded that even after what I discovered, I can still choose to be free. I’m free to start over, to create a better future for myself and Clark.
Brett and his father no longer have power over me. They do not get to have the last word. I do.
THE END
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Table of Contents
Book Description
Title Page
Copyright
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
PART TWO
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
>
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Epilogue
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