For ten months, I had quietly planned the morning when Nathaniel would finally discover the truth. I made my coffee in the house I owned and placed a letter where he would find it. He opened it casually, barely paying attention, until he read the words “Rent increase. Effective immediately.” He laughed at the idea of his landlord demanding more money. Then Priscilla noticed the company name at the bottom. H and G Bait and Tackle. Nathaniel recognized it as his father’s old company, but he still did not understand. Then Priscilla pointed to the signature and froze.

“Why does your landlord have your mother’s name?” she asked. Nathaniel looked again. The signature belonged to Marguerite Fenn—me. The woman he had been sending rent payments to for months without realizing it. His expression changed completely as he finally understood that the person he had treated like a burden had secretly become the owner of his home. Then I knew it was time to tell them everything.