Chapter 8 - Sally’s Winter
Garrett saw Sally again three days later.
Not because he followed.
She agreed to meet at Harbor Center.
Leland present.
No Lily.
Garrett placed the folder on table.
“The original letters.”
Sally stared.
“You found them.”
“Yes.”
“And the video.”
Her face tightened.
“What video?”
He told.
She closed eyes.
Then:
“Of course Cindy kept it.”
“Why of course?”
“She kept everything that could be used against people.”
Garrett swallowed.
“I’m going to correct my statement about the bank.”
Sally looked at him.
“That helps four years late.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
He nodded.
Then:
“I want to repay what I received.”
“What?”
“The fifty thousand Mom gave me from the money.”
Sally stared.
“I didn’t know then.”
“Keep it.”
“No.”
“You have it?”
“Not all.”
He had around $18,000 savings.
Truck worth maybe $22,000.
He could sell.
Sally shook head.
“I don’t need you making yourself homeless to prove guilt.”
The irony hurt.
Then she said:
“What I need is stability for Lily.”
Garrett’s throat tightened.
“Can I meet her?”
“No.”
He nodded immediately.
That surprised Sally.
Then:
“Can I ask about her?”
Pause.
“Yes.”
Health?
Better than baby years.
Asthma.
Small for age.
Smart.
Obsessed with sea animals.
Likes purple despite wearing yellow rain jacket.
Favorite food macaroni.
Hates peas.
Garrett cried quietly.
Sally watched.
No comfort.
Then he asked:
“Where are you staying?”
“Weekly motel.”
“Why?”
“My rent increased. I missed two shifts when Lily was sick. I got behind.”
“Can I pay…”
“No.”
“Child support?”
“You are not legally established yet.”
“I can…”
“No cash.”
She had learned.
Paper.
Process.
Then Sally told him more.
After Lily’s birth, she eventually recovered professionally.
A transportation firm hired her.
Two years stable.
Then Cindy appeared.
Garrett froze.
“What?”
Cindy contacted Sally’s employer.
Claimed Sally had stolen marital funds and was under fraud investigation.
Not true.
The company questioned Sally.
She provided documents.
Kept job.
Then anonymous emails accused her again.
Eventually no finding.
But damage.
Sally left for another position.
Then Cindy filed a small civil claim alleging unpaid “rent” from marriage.
Dismissed.
Legal costs.
Then another employer background issue because the old joint account dispute appeared in public civil records.
Not criminal.
Still.
“Why did she keep doing this?”
Sally looked at Garrett.
“To make sure I stayed the woman you thought I was.”
Garrett felt sick.
Then:
“Did you ever tell me?”
“I sent one email.”
“To where?”
His old work email.
He had changed jobs.
Cindy knew?
Maybe no.
Not every failure hers.
Then Sally continued.
“Garrett, your mother hurt me. But you don’t get to make her responsible for every year you didn’t look.”
There.
The sentence he needed.
He nodded.
“I know.”
“Good.”
May you like
Then:
“Lily deserves a father who knows the difference.”
