Chapter 8
I decided to write Barbara a letter.
I didn't want to call her. I didn't want to see her. But I wanted to give her one chance to do the right thing.
I sat at the kitchen table late one night, Ellie asleep in her room, and wrote.
Dear Barbara,
I'm writing because I know about the life insurance. I know about the $250,000 from Leah's father. I know you've had it this entire time, sitting in a bank account earning interest, while you let me pay your bills.
I don't need the money back. Not all of it, anyway. What I paid you over three years is a small price to pay to know the truth about who you really are.
But I need you to do something for me.
I need you to write a letter to Ellie. I need you to apologize for what you said. I need you to tell her that she is not a disappointment, that she is beautiful and smart and loved.
And I need you to get help. Real help. For whatever is making you hurt the people who care about you.
If you do these things, I will drop the restraining order. I won't press charges for the fraud. Ellie can choose if and when she wants to see you again, and I won't stand in her way.
But if you don't—if you choose to keep lying and manipulating and hurting people—I will go to the police. I will press charges. I will make sure everyone knows exactly what you've done.
This is your only chance.
Derek
I read it over, then folded it and put it in an envelope.
The next day, I had Aunt Martha deliver it. I didn't want Barbara to have any excuse to say I'd harassed her.
Then I waited.
Three days passed. Nothing.
On the fourth day, a letter arrived in the mail.
No return address. Just my name in Barbara's familiar handwriting.
My hands shook a little as I opened it.
Derek,
I don't know what lies you've been told, but I have no idea what you're talking about. There was no life insurance policy. Leah's father had almost nothing when he died. You're just making things up to make me look bad.
I will not apologize for telling the truth. Ellie needed to hear it. She is a plain, quiet child, and if nobody tells her, she'll go through life with unrealistic expectations. I was doing her a favor.
If you try to press charges, I'll fight you. I'll tell everyone what kind of man you really are. You'll lose everything. Your job, your reputation, your daughter.
Don't push me.
Barbara
I read the letter twice.
Then I crumpled it up and threw it in the trash.
I'd given her a chance. She'd thrown it back in my face.
Now there was only one thing left to do.
I called the police.
I told them everything. The financial fraud. the harassment. The attempt to take Ellie from school.
I gave them the bank records. Jennifer's notebook. The life insurance policy documents. Barbara's letter.
They took it seriously.
An investigation was opened.
The next few weeks were a blur of meetings with detectives, statements, paperwork.
Tom and Jennifer both gave statements, confirming what they'd seen and what they knew.
Aunt Martha gave her statement too.
Barbara was interviewed by the police. She denied everything, of course. But the evidence was overwhelming.
They found the bank account. They found the insurance payout. They found the purchases that matched Jennifer's notes perfectly.
The district attorney decided to press charges.
Fraud. Harassment. Attempted custodial interference.
When Barbara was arrested, the family was shocked. Even those who'd believed me hadn't thought it would go this far.
But I'd given her a choice.
May you like
She'd made hers.
Now she had to live with the consequences.
