Chapter 10 - Robert’s Last Decision
The video showed only one page, but the language was clear.
Robert left the cabin to Jason.
Not someday.
Not after my death.
Immediately upon Robert’s death.
I felt the room tilt.
“That can’t be real,” I whispered.
Evelyn paused the recording.
“Do you recognize the handwriting?”
“Yes.”
Robert’s hand had become shaky near the end, but I knew every curve.
Jason stared at me. “Dad never told me.”
“He never told me either.”
Price folded his hands. “Sarah believed the will gave Jason ownership.”
“Then why forge a deed?” Evelyn asked.
“Because the will was never filed, and the cabin title had a survivorship provision. Legally, the property transferred to Diane.”
Evelyn nodded. “Meaning the will could not override the deed.”
Price looked irritated. “Sarah didn’t know that at first.”
But I was no longer listening.
Why had Robert written a second will?
Had he intended to leave the cabin to Jason and hidden it from me?
Evelyn played the next recording.
Sarah spoke quickly.
“The will may not hold up, but we can use it to pressure Diane. Tell her Robert wanted Jason to have the cabin. She’ll feel guilty.”
Brenda laughed.
“She lives on guilt. Widows always do.”
My stomach turned.
Then Larry asked where Sarah had found the document.
“In Robert’s locked desk.”
“The one at the cabin?”
“Yes. Diane gave me the office key after the funeral.”
I remembered that day. Sarah had offered to organize Robert’s papers while I could barely get out of bed.
She hadn’t been helping me.
She had been searching.
The final recording was shorter.
Larry said, “What if Diane refuses everything?”
Sarah answered without hesitation.
“Then we prove she’s incompetent. Jason becomes guardian, and we control the property through him.”
Jason shut the laptop.
“That’s enough.”
“No,” I said. “Play the rest.”
Evelyn did.
Sarah continued.
“Jason won’t ask questions. He never does when he thinks he’s keeping the peace.”
My son lowered his head.
The sentence cut him deeper than any accusation could have.
Price agreed to surrender the flash drive in exchange for being allowed to cooperate with investigators. Evelyn promised nothing.
As we left, Price called my name.
“Robert loved you,” he said. “Whatever that will says, don’t let Sarah change what you remember.”
Outside, Jason stopped beside my car.
“I need to find the original.”
I looked toward the mountains.
The document was probably still in Robert’s office.
We returned to the cabin and searched until dark.
Behind the bottom drawer of Robert’s desk, we found a sealed envelope.
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On the front, in my husband’s handwriting, were three words:
DIANE—FORGIVE ME.
