Chapter 20 - The Castle Sketch
Rebecca’s original castle sketch hung in June’s home.
Not mine.
I gave when Lucy turned three.
June framed.
Lucy pointed:
“Princess house.”
“Your Grandma Rebecca drew.”
“Which Grandma?”
June had explained family simply.
“Grandma Rebecca was my mom.”
“What about Megan?”
“My birth mom.”
“Two?”
“Yes.”
“Cool.”
Children accept what adults complicate.
Then Lucy asked about Blake someday.
At six:
“Why do we call him Blake?”
June said:
“Because that’s his name.”
“Is he your dad?”
“He is my biological father. Grandpa Ethan is my dad.”
“Why?”
“Because families are complicated.”
Enough.
Then at ten—the age June was at cake incident—June became anxious before Lucy’s birthday.
She called me.
“I keep imagining something bad.”
“Because age?”
“Yes.”
“Want cancel?”
“No.”
“Then don’t.”
Party was at bowling alley.
Lucy got mad about losing.
Normal.
Blake was not invited that year.
Not because threat.
June didn’t want.
He accepted.
After party June cried in car.
“I thought ten would feel cursed.”
“It’s number.”
“I know.”
Then she laughed.
“She threw shoe.”
“Genetic.”
“From which family?”
“Both probably.”
Normal.
Then castle cake.
Lucy asked one year.
June said no.
Then reconsidered.
She and I made one together.
I was sixty-four.
Hands slower.
Six towers.
“Dragon?”
Lucy insisted.
At party, Blake happened to be invited? Maybe not. Let's have he was invited to afternoon coffee, not party. No need reenact.
June cut cake.
She gave first slice to Lucy.
Second Noah.
Third me.
Then said:
“Dad, you finally got windows right.”
I laughed.
Twenty-four years after first.
No one destroyed.
Then Richard’s old signet ring money long spent.
Family estate no longer looming.
Blake inheritance existed.
I had mine.
No contests.
No lawsuits.
Richard’s estate closed.
Helen’s closed.
Megan’s wrongful death civil claim? Statutes maybe revived due concealment. Anna pursued after discovery; settled with Blake/Richard estate/insurance? Need resolve. We haven't covered. Could mention now:
After criminal case, Megan’s estate pursued civil wrongful death and concealment claims where allowed, complicated by limitations tolled due fraudulent concealment. Settlement funded through Blake’s assets and Richard estate/liability coverage, around $650k after fees to Megan's estate, mostly Anna/June? As Megan’s child June would be heir. But could create wealth. Need grounded.
Let's address:
Civil settlement reached earlier with Carter family insurers and estates, not massive. June's share placed trust then distributed at 25. She used partly down payment.
No revenge.
Similarly Grace/Rebecca hospital settlement.
Fine.
Then Blue Ridge.
I sold remaining shares gradually to ESOP and management at fair value.
Retired at sixty-six.
No family company passed to June.
She said:
“Thank God.”
I kept chair emeritus title I never used.
Then Blake retired from warehouse.
Lived nearby? Another county.
June saw twice year.
He volunteered? Maybe with road safety nonprofit could feel performative. Better he maintained quiet life.
No driving after age? He regained license but mostly used public transit because choice.
Then one day he asked me:
“Do you forgive?”
Years after.
I said:
“Yes.”
He cried.
Then:
“Not friends.”
“I know.”
“Not brothers like before.”
“We were never good brothers.”
True.
Then we drank coffee.
Once.
No renewal.
Forgiveness without access.
Then Anna Vale died at seventy-four? She was maybe similar age to Ethan? Megan's sister perhaps 2 years older than Megan, thus now 50s/60s. She could live long. No need yet.
Then Rebecca memorial.
No secret.
No new records.
The castle sketch became artifact of life before truth.
Not evidence.
That was healing.
One day Lucy drew dragon on copy.
June gasped.
I said:
“Improvement.”
May you like
Rebecca would have loved.
Maybe.
