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Kerry had spread the news like the town crier of positivity. With my permission this time. Everyone had congratulated me, and I took it in as well as I could. I still wasn’t used to everyone being on my side, but I’d figured out how to do some small talk whenever someone found me at the square.
And I enjoyed it. I finally belonged somewhere. I refused to take it for granted.
All our focus was on opening the farm and making sure Eric was okay after everything. Henry had referred us to a child psychologist, and they’d been working together once a week at the school.
But I still saw Eric glance at me when he thought I wasn’t looking. I didn’t know what was going on in his head, but there was something he hadn’t told me.
I wasn’t sure if he was sparing my feelings or if he didn’t want to talk about it, but I’d told him he could any time he needed to. I assumed that he would eventually get there.
Even Mollie noticed it, and she brought it up while I was getting the mail one day.
“I still don’t know what it is,” I told her. “But I’m trying to be patient.”
“Has he told his therapist?” she asked.
“I want him to tell Dr. White whatever he wants to, so I don’t ask. Not that they’d tell me anyway. All I can do is wait.”
Her hand landed on my shoulder. “It’s killing you, isn’t it?”
“I hate that he dealt withanyof this. Even if it was only for twelve hours.” I shook my head and opened the mailbox. “But it happened. And it got me sole custody.”
“He’ll open up eventually.”
“I hope so,” I said as I went through the mail. “Because—” I paused when I saw a blank letter with my lawyer’s address on the top. “Shit. Please tell me this isn’t another bill.”
I still had savings, but not as much as I wanted to. Mollie and I had discussed making me a co-owner of the farm now that we were together and building a life with each other, but even with the extra money that would offer, it would take time to build it back up.
The last thing I wanted was to have to pay more for this custody battle that was over.
Tearing open the letter, my heartbeat kicked up a notch.
But then I saw it. And it was the opposite of a bill.
“Is that a check?” Mollie asked, peering over my shoulder. “Holyshit.How much is that?”
“That is ...” I did the math in my head, my breathing shaky. “Every dollar I paid him.”
“What?” she asked. “But how?”
I flipped the page, noticing a letter with his signature on it.
Hi Cain,
The town of Strawberry Springs is under the STM grant. Your bill was covered by donation, so I’m refunding you what you paid. It was a pleasure working with you.
Morgan Thompson
“The STM grant?”
“That’s the one that lowers the rent,” I said. “Why would it pay my lawyer bill?”
“And on that note, why would one lower rent?” Mollie shook her head. “None of it makes sense.”
“Do you think it’s fake?”
“Is the grant fake?”
“No, it always pays out. Always has. For about five years.”