Chapter 24 #2
She clutched Earl’s journal, a flash of contrition in her eyes. “I apologize. I’m sure you don’t care about my life story.
What I need you to know is that I have regrets about almost everything, except for being extremely successful. I don’t regret
that. But how I got here, how I threw away my family . . .” Her voice hitched. “My son . . .”
Via took her hand. “It’s okay.”
Constance stiffened as she pulled her hand away. “It’s not, but thank you for trying to make me feel better.” She swiftly
regained her composure, just like Via had seen Leo do. “I can’t change the past. I can’t make amends with Earl, which was
why I came to Pecan Corner in the first place. But I was too late.”
Via’s heart filled with sympathy. Despite Constance’s haughtiness, she could see the woman was sincere.
“I wasn’t a good mother to Leo. I can see that now. But at the time, I thought I was. I wanted him to have the best. Hiring
elite nannies, firing them when they didn’t meet my standards. Sending him to boarding school, and when that”—she averted
gaze—“didn’t work out, he went to the most prestigious school in Manhattan.” She looked back at Via. “Did you know he graduated
at sixteen?”
Via shook her head. She wasn’t surprised, and she saw the pride in Constance’s eyes.
“He excelled at Harvard. And he would have excelled at Brewster Development Group too, given time . . .” Her lips trembled
slightly. “I gave him everything I thought was important, but not the one thing he truly needed.” She held out the journal
to Via. “I can’t build a bridge back to Leonardo. But I can do the right thing. I talked to Bennett. He’ll be contacting you
with papers he’s drawn up. Second Chapter and the apartment are yours . . . for one dollar.”
Squeaks was meowing behind her, and Cinnamon was answering in response. “I . . . I don’t know what to say.” Via stared at the journal. It all seemed unreal.
“My brother wanted you to have the bookstore. I don’t know why Leo gave up on it. I was surprised Earl had left it to him.
I’ll never know. In the end it doesn’t matter. What matters are Earl’s wishes.”
Via held back tears and took the journal.
Constance half smiled, a tiny dimple appearing in her left cheek. Just like Leo’s. “Thank you for caring for my brother.”
She stood and picked up her purse. Then paused. “Do . . . do you know where Leo is? Did he go back to Los Angeles?”
She nodded, although it was an assumption. He never told her where he was going, hadn’t answered her phone calls and texts.
But it made sense. Like selling Second Chapter, going back to California was what he wanted.
“I thought I might stay in Pecan Corner a little while,” Constance said, looking around the café. Squeaks was sitting on the
floor in front of her, about two feet away, looking up at her in curiosity. “I’d like to get to know my brother better.”
“You’re welcome here anytime,” Via said.
She gave a little nod, then left.
Via stared at the journal before slowly opening it. Soon she was devouring it all, smiling at some entries, tearing up at
others, especially when Earl mentioned his estranged family. Oh, Earl . . .
When she got to the last page, she read his last entry, and the tears fell in earnest. She wiped them away and started to
close the cover. She needed to start preparing everything for tomorrow’s new arrivals, but she would come back to the journal
later tonight and reread it.
Then she noticed the corner of a white piece of paper sticking out from the inside back cover. The red backing had come apart, forming a pocket at the bottom. She wondered if Constance had noticed.
Via pulled out the paper and opened it. The picture of her and Leo in the Pumpkinheads fell out. Unfamiliar handwriting was
on the page.
October 30, 2025
Dear Uncle Earl,
I’m not sure why I’m writing this. It’s not like you’re going to see it. But after reading your journal, I feel like I’ve
spent actual time with you. I’ve gotten to know you, not just through your writing, but through the legacy you left me. I
know you love books. Duh. I know you love the Phillies, and maybe next season I’ll figure out why they were always your team.
You have great taste in casual clothes. It’s been an honor to raid your closet. I know you missed out on family. I did too.
Most of all, I realized that you and I are a lot alike. Except for the clutter. I can’t stand clutter.
We’re loners, by circumstances and by choice. We’re both lonely, although we fight not to admit it. Then a wonderful, amazing
woman came into our lives, just when we needed her. You loved her like a daughter. I love her with my life. She doesn’t know
that yet, and I don’t want to scare her. But I’ll tell her someday. I’m going to surprise her earlier than that, though. As
soon as I earn the inheritance you so generously left to me, I’m going to sign Second Chapter over to her. I’ll keep the apartment,
though. I’ve grown fond of it now that it’s cleaned up.
I guess what I’m trying to say is thank you, and to say it like I would if you were here.
I wish I’d met you in person. I wish my mother hadn’t been so selfish.
I wish for many things that can’t be changed or undone.
What I can do is honor your last wish that you didn’t get a chance to fulfill.
You picked the right person to care for your legacy—Octavia Dalton.
Leo
She wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. This was written before their argument. Before she hid the offer from
him and betrayed him.
He loved her. Enough to give up his inheritance.
No, he wasn’t going to give it up because of her. He was doing what Earl wanted. Just like Constance did.
She stared at their picture. Her dorky expression, his sublime one. It was a little creased, as if he’d looked at it a few
times. She pressed it against her heart. She couldn’t change or undo certain things, especially between them. But she could
do the right thing.