Back at the cabin, I painted the front door a fresh coat of deep green. It gleamed in the afternoon sun, bold and solid. With every stroke, I felt more ownership, more determination.
When I took a break, I pulled out Dad’s box again. Tucked inside was another envelope, smaller, marked For Hannah’s eyes only. I opened it carefully. Inside was a handwritten note.
If Megan pressures you, remember this. Integrity beats greed in the long game. But you’ll need proof, allies, and a plan. Trust Chen. Trust yourself. And don’t forget, strength runs deeper than blood.
I folded it back slowly. Dad hadn’t just trusted me. He’d prepared me for exactly what Megan was trying to do.
By evening, Jack returned carrying an old army cot.
“Thought you might want something better than that couch.”
“Thanks,” I said. “Feels like I’m back in a forward operating base.”
He grinned.
“Difference is, here, you’ve got choice. You get to build instead of just survive.”
As night fell, I cooked pasta on the stove and ate with the window open, listening to the steady lap of the lake. My body ached from scrubbing, painting, lifting, but it was a good ache, the kind that came from fighting for something real.