{"id":9289,"date":"2026-09-11T11:16:03","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T11:16:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/?p=9289"},"modified":"2026-09-11T11:16:03","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T11:16:03","slug":"part-19-alicia-finally-told-us-why-she-made-the-pocket-call-and-her-answer-forced-mark-to-separate-forgiveness-from-going-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/?p=9289","title":{"rendered":"PART 19 \u2013 Alicia Finally Told Us Why She Made the Pocket Call, and Her Answer Forced Mark to Separate Forgiveness From Going Back"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I agreed to see Alicia because I wanted one answer from her directly.<\/p>\n<p>Not because she deserved the meeting.<\/p>\n<p>Not because I owed her forgiveness.<\/p>\n<p>Because I wanted it.<\/p>\n<p>That was enough.<\/p>\n<p>The meeting took place in a private room at the county detention facility with attorneys nearby and investigators aware of the conversation.<\/p>\n<p>Mark came separately.<\/p>\n<p>He had already decided he would not sit beside Alicia.<\/p>\n<p>That detail broke my heart more than I expected.<\/p>\n<p>For fifteen years, those two had automatically chosen the same side of every room.<\/p>\n<p>Now there was a table between them.<\/p>\n<p>Alicia looked smaller.<\/p>\n<p>No makeup.<\/p>\n<p>Hair tied back.<\/p>\n<p>Plain clothes provided by the facility.<\/p>\n<p>But I refused to let appearance do moral work.<\/p>\n<p>People can look vulnerable and still have done terrible things.<\/p>\n<p>She stood when I entered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDorothy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She did.<\/p>\n<p>Mark remained standing for another moment before taking the chair farthest from her.<\/p>\n<p>Alicia looked at him.<\/p>\n<p>He looked at me.<\/p>\n<p>I began.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid you call me on purpose?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>No hesitation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her hands tightened together.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause I couldn&#39;t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo what?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBring those papers into your kitchen and watch you sign them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou had already forged my signature.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou had already falsified the trust appointments.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou had already helped build a record saying I was confused.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen why was that morning different?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her eyes filled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don&#39;t know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat isn&#39;t enough.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She breathed.<\/p>\n<p>Then tried again.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause it was going to become real.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I waited.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe other things were papers. Transfers. Emails. I kept telling myself Bruce would finish the development, everyone would get paid, and then I could put things back.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou can&#39;t put back a forged medical record.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know that now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou knew it then.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She closed her eyes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Better.<\/p>\n<p>She continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen Mark put the folder in the car, he said he hated doing this behind your back.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mark stared at the table.<\/p>\n<p>Alicia looked toward him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe said, \u2018Mom is going to think we betrayed her.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mark whispered, \u201cI remember.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd I said she&#39;d understand later.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I remembered hearing part of that.<\/p>\n<p>Not every word.<\/p>\n<p>Enough.<\/p>\n<p>Alicia said Mark then talked about Silver Meadows.<\/p>\n<p>He was worried I would hate it.<\/p>\n<p>He wanted to postpone.<\/p>\n<p>She told him they could not.<\/p>\n<p>Bruce had given a deadline.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel had warned that Crossfield financing was closing.<\/p>\n<p>The guardianship petition was ready.<\/p>\n<p>Grant&#39;s letter was ready.<\/p>\n<p>Patricia had prepared trust documents.<\/p>\n<p>Everything had narrowed to that morning.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI looked at Mark,\u201d Alicia said, \u201cand realized he still thought we were helping you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mark&#39;s face changed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou knew I didn&#39;t know?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He swallowed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou told me the power of attorney was temporary.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou told me Mom&#39;s doctor was worried.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou told me Samuel had recommended planning ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Alicia cried.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Samuel had never recommended anything of the sort.<\/p>\n<p>Mark leaned forward.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou weren&#39;t only lying to Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou were using me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The word came out almost soundlessly.<\/p>\n<p>Mark sat back.<\/p>\n<p>Something settled in him.<\/p>\n<p>Not peace.<\/p>\n<p>Certainty.<\/p>\n<p>Alicia looked at me again.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo I called you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy not simply tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCowardice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That answer I believed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI thought if you overheard us, you&#39;d refuse.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou mentioned the boat.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her face twisted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was trying to make it sound bad.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I stared.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat part succeeded.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A tiny, miserable laugh escaped her.<\/p>\n<p>She covered her mouth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI said things I knew would make you suspicious.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSilver Meadows.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSigning papers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe money.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid Mark know you were calling?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He shook his head.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI didn&#39;t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid Bruce?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid you intend to confess afterward?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Alicia was silent too long.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>There was the limit of her courage.<\/p>\n<p>She wanted to stop the outcome without standing in front of what she had done.<\/p>\n<p>The call exposed us to danger because once I resisted, Bruce&#39;s people accelerated.<\/p>\n<p>But without it, I might have signed.<\/p>\n<p>Mark might have filed.<\/p>\n<p>The trust might have entered years of litigation.<\/p>\n<p>I might have been moved before anyone understood why.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy didn&#39;t you tell us after I confronted you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI panicked.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou kept lying.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou minimized.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou went back to Bruce after Raymond died.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou accepted Crossfield money.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou forged my name.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Every answer landed quietly.<\/p>\n<p>No dramatic defense remained.<\/p>\n<p>Finally I asked:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you expect me to forgive you because you made the call?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That mattered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you expect Mark to?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She looked at him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mark spoke.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI might.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Alicia stared.<\/p>\n<p>I did too.<\/p>\n<p>He continued before she could misunderstand.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI might forgive you someday.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She started crying harder.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut I&#39;m not coming home.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her expression collapsed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMark\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His voice stayed quiet.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI&#39;ve spent days thinking forgiveness meant I had to decide whether our marriage survives.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He shook his head.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt doesn&#39;t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Alicia covered her face.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI love you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI believe you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That surprised her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI believe you loved me while lying to me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He looked toward me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cApparently two truths are contagious.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I almost smiled.<\/p>\n<p>Then he faced Alicia again.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can believe you were manipulated by Bruce. I can believe you became trapped. I can believe you made that call because some part of you wanted Mom to escape.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Alicia lowered her hands.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd I can believe you chose money, lied to me for years, used my fear about my mother, forged my initials, and helped prepare papers that could have taken away her freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He breathed slowly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don&#39;t have to choose which version of you is real.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Alicia whispered, \u201cThey&#39;re both real.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He stood.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI need to build a life that doesn&#39;t depend on pretending one of them isn&#39;t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She cried without trying to stop him.<\/p>\n<p>He left.<\/p>\n<p>I remained.<\/p>\n<p>Alicia looked at the closed door.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe&#39;ll divorce me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cProbably.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you think he should?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat isn&#39;t my decision.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She laughed through tears.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou really mean that now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI should have meant it sooner.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She looked at me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you hate me?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her surprise almost offended me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDon&#39;t mistake that for absolution.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI won&#39;t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHate would require too much of my day.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat&#39;s all?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don&#39;t know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen learn to live without controlling the answer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I stood.<\/p>\n<p>Before leaving, I turned back.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe call mattered.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Alicia looked up.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt does not erase what came before it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut I am alive in my house, controlling my property, partly because you pressed my name on that phone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She cried again.<\/p>\n<p>I opened the door.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat is one true thing you can keep.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Outside, Mark waited beside the elevator.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou stayed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat did she say?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNothing you need from me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He nodded.<\/p>\n<p>Then he hugged me.<\/p>\n<p>The divorce petition was filed the following week.<\/p>\n<p>Mark did not ask me whether he should.<\/p>\n<p>He told me after.<\/p>\n<p>That distinction made me proud of him in a way I kept to myself.<\/p>\n<p>The criminal cases moved slower than our emotions wanted.<\/p>\n<p>Bruce pleaded not guilty initially.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel Hayes did the same.<\/p>\n<p>Calvin Moore&#39;s attorney negotiated.<\/p>\n<p>Patricia continued cooperating.<\/p>\n<p>Miles Grant surrendered his medical license pending proceedings.<\/p>\n<p>Claire admitted the burglaries through a plea agreement.<\/p>\n<p>Lewis Grant acknowledged helping obtain access information and sending intimidation messages.<\/p>\n<p>Crossfield terminated Daniel and two executives.<\/p>\n<p>Its board commissioned an outside investigation and provided records to prosecutors.<\/p>\n<p>Whether that cooperation came from ethics, survival, or both did not matter to me as much as what the records proved.<\/p>\n<p>They proved the Mercer acquisition strategy had been discussed by senior employees.<\/p>\n<p>They proved concerns about my capacity were treated as a business obstacle to be developed rather than a medical reality to be respected.<\/p>\n<p>They proved Margaret Lewis&#39;s sale had been discussed as a model.<\/p>\n<p>Crossfield&#39;s chairman requested another meeting.<\/p>\n<p>This time I agreed.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel attended.<\/p>\n<p>So did Margaret.<\/p>\n<p>The chairman looked surprised to see her.<\/p>\n<p>Good.<\/p>\n<p>His name was Robert Ellison.<\/p>\n<p>He began with an apology.<\/p>\n<p>Not the vague kind.<\/p>\n<p>He acknowledged that people working for and with his company had participated in conduct that violated both policy and basic standards.<\/p>\n<p>I appreciated the specificity.<\/p>\n<p>I did not reward it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat are you doing for Margaret?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He looked at her.<\/p>\n<p>Crossfield had acquired an indirect interest in the company that now held her former property.<\/p>\n<p>They were prepared to unwind the transaction or compensate her based on independent valuation.<\/p>\n<p>Margaret folded her hands.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don&#39;t want my house back.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Robert nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen compensation can be discussed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith my lawyer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She smiled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI&#39;ve learned.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Then he turned to me.<\/p>\n<p>Crossfield still wanted the development.<\/p>\n<p>That surprised nobody.<\/p>\n<p>But the original marina design was being reconsidered.<\/p>\n<p>The company was prepared to negotiate openly for access rights.<\/p>\n<p>Independent valuation.<\/p>\n<p>My counsel.<\/p>\n<p>No intermediaries.<\/p>\n<p>No deadlines tied to my personal circumstances.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat are you offering?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Samuel looked at me.<\/p>\n<p>I smiled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI&#39;m asking.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Robert gave a preliminary range.<\/p>\n<p>Far above three million.<\/p>\n<p>I felt no rush.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSend it in writing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He did.<\/p>\n<p>I didn&#39;t answer for three weeks.<\/p>\n<p>That may have been my favorite part.<\/p>\n<p>During those weeks, I repaired the house.<\/p>\n<p>Not because it needed much.<\/p>\n<p>Because I wanted every damaged thing addressed.<\/p>\n<p>The kitchen glass was replaced properly.<\/p>\n<p>Raymond&#39;s study was reorganized.<\/p>\n<p>The printer went to evidence and never returned.<\/p>\n<p>I bought a new one.<\/p>\n<p>Mark helped me choose it.<\/p>\n<p>He started explaining features.<\/p>\n<p>I held up a hand.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShow me the manual.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He laughed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I read it myself.<\/p>\n<p>Eleanor stopped knitting.<\/p>\n<p>We were all grateful.<\/p>\n<p>Margaret agreed to return as an independent trustee after Samuel confirmed her earlier resignation could be rescinded through proper procedures.<\/p>\n<p>Two additional trustees were appointed legally.<\/p>\n<p>No forged signatures.<\/p>\n<p>No cousins notarizing their own authority.<\/p>\n<p>We held the meeting in Samuel&#39;s office.<\/p>\n<p>He placed every page before me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTake your time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I did.<\/p>\n<p>The trust was repaired.<\/p>\n<p>Not restored to Raymond&#39;s exact arrangement.<\/p>\n<p>Improved.<\/p>\n<p>I added provisions requiring independent medical evaluations from two unrelated physicians before incapacity could affect trust governance.<\/p>\n<p>Family reports alone would not be enough.<\/p>\n<p>No trustee could benefit financially from a development transaction.<\/p>\n<p>All major commercial offers had to be independently valued.<\/p>\n<p>And every future primary trustee would receive the entire trust file.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo secrets?\u201d Samuel asked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo clever church basements.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He smiled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRaymond would object.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRaymond isn&#39;t trustee.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That felt good to say.<\/p>\n<p>My children and grandchildren would inherit information along with property.<\/p>\n<p>They could still make bad choices.<\/p>\n<p>But secrecy would not be the architecture around them.<\/p>\n<p>One evening Mark came for dinner alone.<\/p>\n<p>His new apartment was fifteen minutes away.<\/p>\n<p>The children split time under a temporary arrangement approved by the family court.<\/p>\n<p>Alicia had supervised contact while her criminal case proceeded.<\/p>\n<p>It was painful.<\/p>\n<p>It was also calmer than the chaos before.<\/p>\n<p>After dinner, Mark carried dishes to the sink.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you remember when you asked whether I would&#39;ve filed the guardianship petition?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know the answer now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I waited.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think I would have.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He looked ashamed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf Alicia had shown me Grant&#39;s letter and those financial records, I think I would have signed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I did not comfort him.<\/p>\n<p>He didn&#39;t need comfort.<\/p>\n<p>He needed truth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen I&#39;m glad you know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI keep thinking that makes me terrible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat does it make me?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cResponsible for learning.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He dried a plate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI&#39;ve started therapy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He looked at me suspiciously.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat&#39;s all?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat were you expecting?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA speech.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI charge for those now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He laughed.<\/p>\n<p>Then became serious.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was afraid you&#39;d never trust me again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don&#39;t trust you the same way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His face fell.<\/p>\n<p>I continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI trust you better.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He looked confused.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBefore, I trusted you because you were my son.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I handed him another plate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow I trust you when your actions earn it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He stared at me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat sounds harsher.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt isn&#39;t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He understood after a moment.<\/p>\n<p>Earned trust could survive reality.<\/p>\n<p>Blind trust could not.<\/p>\n<p>A month later, prosecutors notified us that Bruce wanted to change his plea.<\/p>\n<p>His cooperation had exposed additional property schemes in two counties.<\/p>\n<p>More families came forward.<\/p>\n<p>Some cases involved crimes.<\/p>\n<p>Some involved aggressive but lawful transactions.<\/p>\n<p>Investigators would sort them.<\/p>\n<p>I did not need every unhappy sale turned into my story.<\/p>\n<p>Then Samuel called about Crossfield&#39;s revised proposal.<\/p>\n<p>The company offered a long-term access easement rather than outright ownership.<\/p>\n<p>The trust would retain the shoreline.<\/p>\n<p>Environmental restrictions would limit the marina.<\/p>\n<p>Public lake access would be preserved along part of the route.<\/p>\n<p>The payment was substantial.<\/p>\n<p>More money than Raymond and I had ever imagined receiving from the property.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you want it?\u201d Samuel asked.<\/p>\n<p>I looked through the kitchen window toward the trees.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI want to see the lake.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>We drove there.<\/p>\n<p>No police.<\/p>\n<p>No developers.<\/p>\n<p>No attorneys.<\/p>\n<p>Just me.<\/p>\n<p>Mark offered to come.<\/p>\n<p>I said no.<\/p>\n<p>Not because I was angry.<\/p>\n<p>Because I wanted to make the first decision alone.<\/p>\n<p>I walked the shoreline.<\/p>\n<p>Raymond and I had brought Mark there as a child.<\/p>\n<p>He learned to swim in the shallow water near the dock.<\/p>\n<p>Raymond&#39;s father had taught him to fish there.<\/p>\n<p>Charles had probably stood on the same stones resenting his brother.<\/p>\n<p>Too many dead people&#39;s emotions had accumulated around the land.<\/p>\n<p>I picked up a flat stone.<\/p>\n<p>Threw it.<\/p>\n<p>Two skips.<\/p>\n<p>Raymond could get five.<\/p>\n<p>Show-off.<\/p>\n<p>I sat on the old dock until sunset.<\/p>\n<p>Then I knew.<\/p>\n<p>Not what Raymond would do.<\/p>\n<p>Not what Mark preferred.<\/p>\n<p>Not what Crossfield wanted.<\/p>\n<p>What I wanted.<\/p>\n<p>I called Samuel.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTell them I&#39;ll negotiate the easement.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He was silent.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou&#39;re sure?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He laughed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen why?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause certainty isn&#39;t required.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat is?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cChoice.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/?p=9290\">Click here to continue reading: PART 20: When the Last Papers Finally Reached My Kitchen Table, I Read Every Line Before Deciding What Raymond\u2019s Land\u2014and My Life\u2014Would Become<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I agreed to see Alicia because I wanted one answer from her directly. Not because she deserved the meeting. Not because I owed her forgiveness. Because I wanted it. That &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9270,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9289","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insightdrama"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9289","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9289"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9289\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9309,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9289\/revisions\/9309"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9270"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9289"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9289"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9289"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}