Chapter 38 - THE WOMAN WHO RAISED HER
I had listened to Laura’s final audio once and then refused to make it part of daily life. Her unsent email was different. I had read it many times. Not obsessively anymore. Sometimes on anniversaries. Sometimes when Maisie asked about her. It was the closest thing I had to a final conversation with my wife. Now a production company planned to turn it into narration over rain footage.
Rachel filed for emergency relief.
The producer’s attorneys argued the email concerned matters of public record and Corinne’s criminal motive.
Our attorneys argued it had been obtained through unlawful access to sealed files and contained intensely private family material unrelated to legitimate public reporting.
I did not care about the legal phrasing.
One sentence mattered.
I loved your certainty about me more than I loved giving you the chance to know the imperfect truth.
Laura wrote that to me.
Not subscribers.
Not viewers.
Not strangers pausing a streaming service while eating dinner.
Maisie found me in the kitchen after midnight.
“You okay?”
“No.”
She sat beside me.
“Can they use it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Have I read it?”
“Parts.”
“Not all?”
“No.”
She nodded.
“Why?”
“It was written to me.”
“That makes sense.”
Relief.
Then she added:
“But if they’re going to put it on TV, I want to read it before strangers do.”
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
The next afternoon I gave Maisie the complete email.
No edits.
She read slowly.
Cried quietly.
Then reached one paragraph about Laura’s fear that Corinne was investigating her trust.
“She was scared for me.”
“Yes.”
“She thought you’d be angry about Northcrest.”
“Yes.”
“Were you?”
“I would’ve been.”
Maisie looked up.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“You always say you would’ve forgiven her.”
“I probably would have eventually. That doesn’t mean we wouldn’t have fought.”
Maisie almost smiled through tears.
“I like that better.”
“What?”
“That she could make you mad.”
“Your mother was extremely talented at it.”
Maisie laughed.
Then cried harder.
I moved closer.
“Can I hug you?”
She nodded.
I held her.
The court issued a temporary order preventing use of the stolen email while the source and confidentiality issues were litigated.
The production company delayed episode three.
Online speculation exploded.
Some people claimed I was hiding proof that Laura was corrupt.
Some claimed the email proved Corinne acted in self-defense.
Some claimed Maisie’s trust contained stolen money.
None of it was true.
Truth had become less interesting than suspicion.
Then something unexpected happened.
Corinne released a statement through her parole officer and attorney.
Not to defend me.
To defend Laura’s email.
Laura Carter wrote that message to her husband. I was the reason she never got to send it. I will not participate in anyone stealing from him what I already stole once.
I read it twice.
Then a third time.
Rachel said nothing.
Neither did I.
Finally I whispered:
“She finally understands it.”
“What?”
“It wasn’t just the phone.”
Corinne had stolen Laura’s chance to tell me the truth herself.
May you like
Now someone else was trying to steal it again.
And this time, she refused to help them.
