After Rebirth, I Stopped Competing, and the Fake Heiress Lost It Chapter 10

After Rebirth, I Stopped Competing, and the Fake Heiress Lost It Chapter 10

Inside: a trust fund card and a folded note.

Grandma’s handwriting was shaky, the letters uneven. [Tessa, live a good life.]

I folded the note back up and slipped it into my pocket. The card went into my wallet.

Graham looked at me. “Stay a few days. Mom and Dad miss you.” He paused. “I miss you too.”

“I can’t. I have to get back to work.”

Graham started to say something else, then just nodded. “Yeah. Okay.”

That was the last time I went back.

Mom still texted sometimes: A photo here, a few words there.

I read them. Sometimes I wrote back.

We were distant but not gone. A wide, quiet gap neither of us tried to cross.

I was okay. More than okay.

No comments telling me what to do. No one else’s script to follow.

Ravenport winters were mild. I kept plants on my balcony, watered them every morning, and

watched them fill in slowly.

The evening I came home from work, the last of the sun was slipping between the buildings,

turning the leaves on my balcony gold.

I stood there watching, and out of nowhere, I thought of that second–floor window at the Winslow

house. Years ago.

The light had been just as beautiful.

I just hadn’t been able to see it then.

I set down the watering can, stepped inside, and closed the balcony door.

I made pasta, tossed it with olive oil and parmesan and ate at the table, taking my time.

Outside, the sky darkened. Stars came out.

I washed the plate, wiped down the stove, and laid out my clothes for the morning.

Then I turned off the light and went to sleep.

I didn’t dream that night.