Chapter 4 - WHAT RYAN WANTED BEFORE JULY
Earl called me the next morning.
“I think you should see this.”
He sent the security clip.
Ryan approached the house wearing jeans and a dark polo shirt.
He carried a laptop case.
He entered the old code.
Red light.
He tried again.
Red light.
Then he stepped backward and stared at the camera.
The third attempt failed.
After that, he walked around the side of the house.
Another camera caught him trying the back door.
He stayed for eighteen minutes.
Then he drove away.
Claire had told me he was in Birmingham for work.
I sent the video to Evelyn.
She told me not to contact him.
That afternoon, the closing took place.
Earl and Janice sat across from me.
Janice reached across the table before we signed.
“If you change your mind, say so.”
I looked at her.
She was seventy.
Her white hair curled around her face.
She had known Thomas almost as long as Earl had.
“Would you change anything?”
She smiled.
“I might repaint the laundry room.”
I laughed.
“Thomas hated that yellow.”
“So does Earl.”
For the first time in weeks, my chest loosened.
We signed.
The house changed hands at 2:14 p.m. on July first.
I expected grief.
Instead, I felt something closer to release.
Afterward, Earl handed me a small wooden box.
Inside was a brass key.
“The original front-door key.”
I recognized it immediately.
Thomas had carried that key on his ring during construction.
“I found it in my workshop years ago.”
My eyes filled.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I figured the right time would come.”
I held it tightly.
Earl continued.
“You’re welcome at that house whenever you want.”
“Thank you.”
“But I’m guessing you won’t be there this weekend.”
“No.”
He laughed.
“Probably wise.”
The Bennetts planned to spend Fourth of July weekend there with their daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren.
They had movers delivering several items on the morning of July third.
That was the strange car Lorraine would later see.
But Ryan arrived first.
At 7:06 a.m. on July third, Earl called.
“He’s here.”
My stomach tightened.
“Ryan?”
“With Claire, the kids, and two SUVs.”
“What are they doing?”
“Standing in the driveway.”
I could hear voices behind him.
Then banging.
Ryan was pounding on the front door.
I heard Claire shouting.
Earl lowered his voice.
“They think something’s wrong with the lock.”
“Tell them.”
“Me?”
“You own the house.”
Earl was quiet.
Then he said, “All right.”
I stayed on the phone.
A moment later, I heard the door open.
Ryan’s voice came first.
“Finally.”
Then Earl spoke.
“Morning.”
Silence.
Ryan sounded confused.
“What are you doing here?”
“I live here.”
Another silence.
Then Claire’s voice.
“Where’s my mother?”
Earl answered calmly.
“Atlanta, I imagine.”
“What do you mean you live here?”
“I mean Janice and I bought the house.”
I closed my eyes.
Claire screamed my name so loudly that I heard it through Earl’s phone.
The first call from her came eleven seconds later.
I did not answer.
The second came immediately.
Then the third.
Then Ryan called.
Then Claire again.
By 7:19, I had thirteen missed calls.
At 7:23, Lorraine called.
She was apparently still thirty minutes away.
Her voicemail was furious.
“Margaret, something is terribly wrong at the lake house, and Claire says you need to call immediately.”
May you like
I placed my phone face down.
Then I reheated my coffee.
