CHAPTER 18: THE WRONG CONFESSION
On Monday, Patricia appeared at the police station with an attorney.
She admitted damaging my mailbox and offered to pay restitution.
She denied threatening Sophie.
Her attorney claimed the letter Martin delivered was a poorly worded request for family mediation.
He said Patricia had only destroyed the mailbox because she was embarrassed about sending it.
Ortiz informed me of the statement without discussing confidential investigative details.
She also said the photograph delivered to my door remained under investigation.
That afternoon, Ethan Rowe published a second article.
It suggested that my sister had exploited a family dispute to take a child away from his father.
The article quoted Patricia describing herself as the only adult who had tried to protect Owen.
I felt furious enough to drive straight to her house.
Instead, I went for a long walk and called Claire.
She said Laurel had seen the story.
“She’s afraid it will hurt Owen’s daughter,” Claire told me.
I asked what Laurel wanted me to do.
“Nothing public,” Claire replied.
“She wants you to stay out of a fight that belongs in court.”
I understood the request.
I also hated it.
For twenty-two years, I had been left outside every decision involving my sister.
Now I was being told to wait again.
But this time someone had explained why.
I could choose to respect her boundaries instead of mistaking them for rejection.
I turned off my phone and went into Laurel’s old bedroom.
Her faded stars still covered the ceiling.
I sat on the floor and decided to paint the room only after asking her whether she wanted them preserved.
