Chapter 8
The north captains arrived that afternoon.
I summoned them to the garden.
Same patio.
Same open shed.
I wanted the truth standing beside the place where my family’s philosophy had ended up.
Nathan hated that.
My mother hated it more.
“You’re turning private discipline into spectacle.”
I looked at the shed.
“My pregnant wife was locked in there.”
Evelyn sighed.
“There you go again.”
One captain heard her.
His face changed.
Good.
Rafe placed the recorder on the patio table.
I did not play it immediately.
Instead, I asked the captains one question.
“What did Nathan promise you?”
The oldest, Elias Vance, looked at him.
“More autonomy.”
Another said, “A permanent north seat.”
The third remained quiet.
I waited.
Finally he said:
“He said Caleb would step back before the child was born.”
Maya stood beside me.
Her face went pale.
“Before?”
I looked at Nathan.
“How were you planning to accomplish that?”
Nathan said nothing.
My mother answered.
“He would have been grieving.”
The captain frowned.
“Grieving Maya?”
Evelyn looked irritated.
Not remorseful.
I felt Maya’s hand find mine.
My mother realized too late what she had implied.
One of the captains stood.
“You told us Caleb’s wife was leaving.”
Nathan looked toward him.
The man continued.
“You said there would be no child.”
Silence.
My mother said, “Plans change.”
I almost laughed.
“No.”
I looked around.
“The story changes whenever someone catches you.”
That landed.
I finally pressed play.
My mother’s voice filled the garden.
“Five days should be enough. If she loses it, Caleb breaks. If she doesn’t, we move to the second lesson.”
Maya’s grip tightened.
I had not heard that part yet.
Neither had Nathan, apparently.
He looked at Evelyn.
“Second lesson?”
My mother remained silent.
Interesting.
Even he did not know everything.
I replayed it.
Nathan turned toward her.
“What second lesson?”
Evelyn’s face hardened.
“Nothing that became necessary.”
Wrong answer.
I stood.
“What were you going to do to my wife if she survived five days?”
Maya stopped breathing beside me.
My mother looked toward the shed.
Then back at me.
“Make you choose.”
My voice lowered.
“Between what?”
She gave the smallest smile.
“Your wife and the family.”
May you like
That was when Nathan finally understood he had never been her final plan either.
He was only the person she intended to place beside me when she forced the choice.
