After my father’s sudden death, I was thrown out with nothing but his old work boots. Grief was supposed to be the worst part — until I found what he’d hidden inside. It wasn’t just a secret…
it was a message, and it changed the way I saw everything…
It was a Tuesday morning when my father died.
One minute he was arguing with a supplier about lumber. The next, he was gone.
They said it was a heart attack — massive, sudden, and thankfully, no pain.
He was 62, a contractor for 30 years who worked long hours with splintered hands and knees that cracked when he climbed stairs. He had built half the homes in our town, including the one I grew up in.
Cheryl, his wife of five years, called me.
It wasn’t the hospital or the coroner — it was snobby Cheryl.
“He collapsed on-site, Eleanor,” she said. Her voice didn’t shake. “They say he died before he hit the ground.”
She’d already scheduled the funeral by the time I got back.
**
I’d spent the week at a friend’s apartment in the city.
She’d let me stay there after a job interview — my third one in two months.
Since the layoffs at the architecture firm, I’d been living with my dad while trying to get back on my feet. Cheryl wasn’t exactly thrilled about that.
“I’m not running a halfway house, Ray,” she’d said.
My dad ignored her. He’d just looked at me and smiled.
“You’re home, Ellie.
That’s all that matters.”
But he wasn’t there anymore.
I came back early Wednesday morning.
Cheryl opened the door before I could even knock. She wasn’t wearing makeup, and her arms were crossed tight across her chest.
Across the street, Mrs. Donnelly paused mid-walk with her little dog and stared.
Cheryl didn’t look away. She lifted her chin like she wanted an audience. Mrs.
Donnelly’s mouth tightened, and she kept walking — slow, watching.
“You came back,” she said flatly.
“You were gone for three days,” she said, leaning against the frame.
“For a job interview, Cheryl,” I said. “I’m sorry I didn’t text, but —”
“I thought you weren’t coming back, Eleanor.”
“My clothes are still inside. My laptop, too.
I just need to grab a few things and then I’ll leave you alone.”
She exhaled slowly through her nose, like I’d asked for her diamonds.
“You can stay tonight,” she said. “Just for the funeral.”
“I wasn’t planning on staying long anyway.”
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