“I don’t know how to believe you yet.”
Caleb nodded.
“That’s fair.”
“No.”
She shook head.
“I want to.”
He looked.
“That frightens me.”
“Me too.”
They did not kiss.
Not then.
It made moment stronger.
Reverend Pike returned in March.
He arrived at cabin alone, hat in hands.
Elena opened door.
Her expression hardened.
“What do you want?”
“To speak.”
“You had years.”
“Yes.”
“Storm?”
“No.”
“Food?”
“No.”
“Then speak outside.”
Cold wind.
Pike looked toward Caleb.
Elena said:
“He stays if I want.”
Pike nodded.
“I have sinned.”
Elena almost closed door.
“I’m not confessional.”
“Elena.”
He looked older.
“I witnessed your mother’s signature.”
She stopped.
“On deed?”
“Yes.”
Caleb moved closer.
Pike continued.
“Your father asked me to attest she was too ill.”
“I refused at first.”
“At first.”
“I later signed statement that she lacked clarity.”
Elena felt sick.
“Was it true?”
“No.”
The word came broken.
“She was weak.”
“But clear.”
“She knew exactly what she was doing.”
“Why sign?”
Pike looked down.
“Your father owed church money.”
Elena stared.
“He promised repayment.”
“You lied about dying woman for donation.”
“Yes.”
Caleb’s fists clenched.
Elena lifted hand.
Not yet.
Pike continued.
“Sarah confronted me.”
“She said I would answer before God.”
“She was right.”
Elena’s voice cold.
“What changed now?”
“Your father asked me to testify you have always been incapable.”
Elena laughed.
“And?”
“I said no.”
“Finally.”
“He threatened to expose old statement.”
“So you came to me.”
“Yes.”
“To save yourself.”
“Yes.”
The honesty stopped her.
Pike looked up.
“I cannot undo.”
“I can testify.”
“I brought this.”
He handed notebook.
Margaret Whitaker’s final pastoral visit log.
Written by Pike.
Mrs. Whitaker alert, oriented, requested legal papers be witnessed, discussed daughter’s future coherently.
It directly contradicted later affidavit.
Elena stared.
“You kept?”
“Couldn’t burn.”
He whispered.
“Cowardice occasionally preserves evidence.”
Caleb almost laughed despite fury.
Elena looked at Pike.
“You will testify everything.”
“Yes.”
“Even church money.”
“Yes.”
“Even you lied.”
“Yes.”
She handed notebook to Caleb.