Page 43 of My One

If you’re reading this letter, it means that I have passed. Edna is the only person who knows about the enclosed will. There is so much that you don’t know, and I’ve hidden too much from you.

The main thing you need to know is that I do love you. I always have, and I always will. You’re my son, and I apologize for the way Doug and I have treated you. That wasn’t my doing. I only did as he said to keep the peace—and to protect you from him.

Hopefully, the enclosed will can make up for some things. I know money doesn’t buy happiness or love, but this was all I could think to do for you. Doug will never leave you anything, and I had to do something. I know he will put up a fight. He’s a horrible man and has taken so much from us.

You might wonder why I stayed married to a mean man. Just know that keeping the peace and doing as he said was a way to keep you and me alive.

Please be the strong man I know you are and don’t let him continue to run our lives. I wish I could have done something before my death, but I couldn’t beat him at his own game.

What you need to do now is contact Shawn Slade. He’s an attorney here in Santa Barbara. He will know what to do next.

Stay strong.

All my love,

Mom

I readthe letter three times, trying to figure out what my mother was trying to tell me. Protect me? Keep me alive? The letter didn’t make any sense. I would have protected her, provided for her. Why could she not tell me what was going on?

I handed Nicole the letter, and as she read it, I read the will. I had no idea if I was reading it correctly because I’d never seen one before.

“Babe,” she breathed. “Your mother loved you.”

My gaze met hers. “Yeah, but I don’t understand why she had to stay away from me.”

“It says she was protecting you. Was your father abusive?”

My stomach sank. “Not that I know of. I don’t recall seeing or hearing anything other than a few arguments, but I thought that was normal.”

She shrugged on a sigh. “I don’t know, but this letter proves that you were loved by her.”

“Yeah.” I swallowed. “But why not him too?”

Nic shook her head slowly. “I don’t know.”

I read the will again, seeing bank account numbers, and various other accounts listed. “I think my mom is giving me half of everything.”

“Really?”

“Well, I think we need to figure out if my dad has a will, and see what it says.”

“How do we do that?” my wife questioned.

“I guess we need to find a number for that Mr. Slade.”

I found Mr. Slade’s number when I searched for it on my phone. When I called, I explained to his secretary who I was, and they had Nic and me come in after lunch.

We sat in the waiting room, waiting for Mr. Slade, my leg bouncing up and down. I wasn’t sure why I was nervous. I never thought this moment would happen. I didn’t need their money, their house, their cars. Ineededtheir love, and now I would never have it.

“Avery?” An older man came into view, dressed in black slacks and a white dress shirt with a red striped tie.

“Yes.” I stood and took his outstretched hand. “This is my wife, Nicole.”

They shook. “Right this way.”

We followed him into his main office and took our seats in the two maroon chairs in front of his heavy wood desk. He opened a folder in front of him. “Let’s just get to it.”

I nodded in agreement.