Chapter 14 - Sabrina’s Letters
Sabrina served years.
Not weeks.
Time changed her letters.
Year six:
I thought your wealth meant my theft would hurt less.
Year seven:
I believed your mother’s foundation was wasted money because it could not become mine.
Year eight:
I used the word wife the way Dad used the word father. As if relationship were authorization.
Wyatt read.
No reply.
Then year nine:
I know forgiveness is not access.
That line made him pause.
He wrote one sentence.
I received your letters.
Months later:
Thank you.
No demand.
Then Piper.
Released.
Divorced Irving.
Worked retail management.
No financial fiduciary work.
She asked for mediated meeting.
Wyatt declined first.
Years later, agreed.
She sat.
“I should have called.”
“Yes.”
“I saw chain.”
“Yes.”
“I left.”
“Yes.”
“I saw your knee.”
“Yes.”
“I still left.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“By party, did you think I would die?”
Piper cried.
“Yes.”
Wyatt closed eyes.
“Okay.”
That was what he needed.
Truth.
She said:
“I’m sorry.”
He answered:
“I’m not ready to forgive.”
“I understand.”
They left.
Two years later he sent:
I forgive you. I don’t want relationship.
She replied:
Thank you.
No further.
Piper died years later from stroke.
Wyatt sent Sabrina brief condolence.
No funeral.
Then Irving.
Prison letters almost never remorse.
“I was saving Palmer.”
“I overreacted.”
“Wyatt provoked.”
Then after decade:
I was wrong to hit him.
Only.
Wyatt said:
“He can keep rest.”
Irving died in custody at seventy seven from heart disease.
No reunion.
No deathbed forgiveness.
He had chances.
He did not use.
Sabrina wrote Wyatt:
Dad died still believing desperation made him right.
Then:
I don’t want to die believing that.
She continued accountability programs.
No miracle.
After approximately seventeen years, Sabrina was released under supervision.
She was near fifty.
Wyatt was fifty one.
She did not contact Ella.
Did not appear.
Did not call Heartland.
She complied.
One year later, Wyatt asked mediator for meeting.
His choice.
Not hers.
Sabrina arrived older.
Gray at temples.
Plain clothes.
She looked at his leg.
“You still limp.”
“Sometimes.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
Then Wyatt:
“Say it.”
She understood.
“I drugged you.”
“Yes.”
“I helped chain.”
“Yes.”
“I used your phone.”
“Yes.”
“I forged access.”
“Yes.”
“I edited goodbye.”
“Yes.”
“I knew Dad intended you not to survive.”
“Yes.”
“I told myself because I wouldn’t give final injection, I wasn’t killing you.”
She cried.
“That was cowardice.”
Wyatt asked:
“Why?”
“Because I thought marrying you promised a life I deserved.”
Then:
“When you told me Heartland wasn’t mine, I heard rejection.”
Then:
“I was terrified Palmer would fail and everyone would see my family as less important than yours.”
Wyatt:
“So I was collateral?”
“Yes.”
She did not soften.
Then:
“Did you love me?”
“Yes.”
“How does that fit?”
“I don’t know.”
Good.
No false philosophy.
Wyatt sat.
“I forgive you.”
She broke.
He continued:
“You will not meet Ella.”
She nodded.
“Maybe never.”
“I understand.”
“You will not contact Julia.”
“Yes.”
“You won’t use my name publicly.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“I don’t hate you.”
Sabrina covered face.
Wyatt stood.
No hug.
He left.
Outside, he breathed.
“Done?”
I asked.
May you like
“For now.”
That was enough.
