Chapter 10 - The Last Lie
Arthur's cooperation led to charges against several people involved in the financial scheme. Patrick was arrested on allegations including fraud, conspiracy, and witness intimidation. Camille faced charges related to coercion and the abuse investigation, subject to the evidence and the court's decisions.
The inquiry into Isabella’s crash continued. Investigators recovered deleted communications indicating that Patrick had authorized a plan to stop her from meeting with authorities. A witness described instructions to interfere with her travel. Prosecutors pursued the case while making clear that a courtroom, not rumor, would determine responsibility.
Camille attempted one final maneuver. Through her lawyer, she offered information about the crash in exchange for favorable treatment. The information included a claim that I had known about Isabella's investigation and wanted her silenced.
It was a lie built around a painful truth: I had known she was asking questions, and I had dismissed her. I could not erase that failure. But I had never wished her harm.
Evelyn told me to stay away from the courthouse press conference. I attended a private meeting with investigators instead and answered their questions under the advice of my attorney. I handed over old messages from Isabella, including the last argument I had been too ashamed to reread.
Her final text said: I need you to believe that doing the right thing matters, even when it costs us.
I had never answered.
That night, I visited her grave. I told her about Jack's airplane and Rosie's new habit of singing while she brushed her teeth. I told her I was trying to become the father she had believed I could be.
“I can't ask you to forgive me,” I said. “But I can stop making excuses.”
I left a small model airplane beside the flowers, then took it home when I remembered Jack had made it for me, not for a grave. It belonged with the living.
At home, Rosie was waiting with a drawing. It showed four figures standing beneath a bright yellow sun: Jack, Rosie, me, and Naomi. Above them she had drawn a fifth figure in the clouds, with Isabella's name written in careful letters.
“It's our family,” she said.
I swallowed hard. “It's beautiful.”
“Can families change and still be families?”
“Yes,” I said. “They can.”
A week later, Evelyn called with news that the court had finalized orders protecting the children from Camille. The criminal proceedings would take longer, but the immediate custody threat had ended.
May you like
I put down the phone and went outside, where Jack was teaching Rosie to throw a baseball. The ball rolled beneath a hedge. I crawled after it, ruining an expensive pair of trousers. Both children laughed.
For once, I didn't care what I looked like.
