The explanation sounded almost plausible.
Almost.
Then Agnes said something that destroyed it.
“Ruth, I need the original Seven Oaks papers. They're the only way to stop what's happening.”
I felt my stomach twist.
There it was.
The real reason she'd come.
Not to check whether my mother was safe.
Not to explain her miraculous return.
Not to apologize for the grief she'd caused.
She wanted the documents.
Mom looked at me.
For the first time, her sadness turned into anger.
“Agnes,” she said, “why would those papers help you?”
Silence.
Then Agnes replied:
“Because they prove who really owns the land.”
Mom's expression changed.
“The ownership has been recorded for decades.”
“Not everything was recorded properly.”
I frowned.
What did that mean?
Agnes lowered her voice.
“Ruth, your daughter doesn't understand any of this.”
I felt my jaw tighten.
“She understands enough,” Mom answered.
Agnes sighed.
“Please. We were friends for thirty years.”
