PART4

“Everything Harold collected over the last two years.”

He pushed it toward me.

I opened the first folder.

Maps.

Survey maps.

County plats.

Tax records.

Letters.

Emails printed on paper.

Photographs of the creek.

A handwritten timeline.

And then I saw something that made my breath stop.

A preliminary acquisition map.

The title at the top read:

CARDINAL MIDSTREAM — ROUTE 9 COMPRESSION EXPANSION PROJECT

My parcel was outlined in red.

There was a blue line running through the property.

And at the northeast corner, there was a circle.

TIE-IN LOCATION.

I looked at Bernard.

“They’ve known about this for two years?”

“They’ve been exploring it for nearly three.”

“And Harold knew?”

“He suspected before they formally approached him.”

“Then why didn’t he tell me?”

Bernard’s expression softened.

“Because he knew you.”

I frowned.

“What does that mean?”

“He knew you’d have sold it to make things easier for him.”

I looked down.

That was exactly what I would have done.

If Harold had told me a company wanted our land, I would’ve asked what they needed, what they were willing to pay, and whether accepting the money would make his medical care easier.

Bernard nodded.

“He didn’t want you making a decision from fear.”

I closed my eyes.

Harold had always known me better than I knew myself.

Then I remembered something.

“Wait.”

I opened my eyes.

“His children knew about the land?”

Bernard shook his head.

“No.”

“You’re sure?”

“Absolutely.”

“Then why did they leave it to me?”

He gave me a strange look.

“Because Harold specifically left it to you.”

I stared at him.

“But they said—”

“They said it was worthless.”

Bernard smiled without humor.

“They believed that.”

I looked back at the file.

“So the house, the boat, the brokerage account…”

“All visible assets.”

“And this?”

“Potentially the most valuable asset he owned.”

I sat back.

“How much?”

Bernard didn’t answer immediately.

“Ruth Ann Kessler mentioned an acquisition offer?”

“She said there was a per-year payment.”

“Did she give you a number?”

“No.”

“Good.”

“Why?”

“Because if you tell me the number she gave you, I want to know exactly what it includes.”

I pulled out my phone.

I had written everything down.

I always wrote things down.

Harold used to tease me about it.

“You’re going to write down what I said five minutes ago?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“So you can’t change your story.”

He’d laugh.

Now I understood why he’d loved that about me.

I read the notes.

“She said acquisition offer. Annual payment. She said their route is approved.”

Bernard nodded.

“Nothing else?”

“No.”

“Excellent.”

“Why do you keep saying excellent like someone just died?”

Bernard looked at me.

“Doreen, this is a negotiation.”

I felt a strange chill.

“My husband just died.”

“I know.”

“And we’re talking about a pipeline company.”

“I know.”

“Then why does it feel like you’re happy?”

“I’m not happy.”

He paused.

“I’m relieved.”

“About what?”

CONTINUE READING PART5…