Someone had made sure the school knew to look for problems where none existed. Lucas called the principal, demanded to know who had contacted them. The answer was vague, an anonymous tip about a child in distress, concerns about unstable home environment, standard protocol to investigate. When he hung up, Amelia was standing in the doorway.
“This is my fault,” she said. “No, this is them being vindictive.” “Same thing.” She looked shattered. “They’re attacking you through your kids. That’s That’s lower than I thought they’d go.” “Then we hit back.” “How?” “I don’t know yet, but I’m not letting them destroy my family because you wouldn’t play their games.
” Amelia walked to the window, staring out at the farm. “Maybe I should just go back, end this before they hurt you worse.” “No.” “Lucas” “No. You run now, they win. They learn they can control you by threatening people you care about. Is that what you want?” “Of course not.” “Then stay, fight, and let me help.
” She turned, eyes bright with unshed tears. “Why are you doing this? Why are you risking everything for me?” Lucas didn’t have a good answer, or rather, he had an answer that terrified him. “Because you’re not alone anymore,” he said instead, “and neither am I.” They spent the evening making calls. Amelia contacted her lawyer, a sharp woman named Patricia, who’d stayed loyal when everyone else bailed.
Lucas called his own lawyer, a small-town guy who mostly handled wills and property disputes, but was willing to try. They built a case for harassment, for unlawful interference, for every dirty trick Caldwell and the board were pulling. It wasn’t much, but it was something. Emma’s science fair project became a welcome distraction.
She threw herself into it with obsessive focus, measuring soil pH and plant growth with equipment Amelia had ordered online. The kitchen table became a laboratory, covered in notebooks and specimens and hand-drawn charts. “This one grew 3 cm,” Emma announced one evening, showing Amelia a sad-looking seedling.
“The control only grew one.” “Good data. Make sure you record it.” “I did. See?” Emma showed her the notebook filled with careful measurements and wobbly handwriting. Amelia studied it seriously. “Your methodology is solid, but we should add more trials, test it with different plant species to see if the results hold.
” “Different plants?” “Sure. Try beans, tomatoes, maybe some herbs. See if the soil quality affects them all the same way, or if some plants are more adaptable.” Emma’s eyes went wide. “That’s brilliant. Can we do that?” “We can try.” Lucas watched them from the doorway, something warm and painful expanding in his chest.
This was what he’d wanted for Emma, someone who took her seriously, who pushed her to think bigger. Sarah would have loved Amelia, would have appreciated the way she treated Emma like a small scientist instead of a child playing at science. The thought should have felt like betrayal. Instead, it felt like permission. That night, after the kids were finally asleep, Lucas found Amelia on the porch again.
She’d started spending her evenings there, laptop balanced on her knees, working late into the night. “You’re going to burn out,” he said, sitting beside her. “Probably. But I’m close to something.” She turned the screen toward him. “Look at this. It was a spreadsheet full of numbers Lucas didn’t understand. What am I looking at? Proof that the board meeting where they voted to remove me was illegal.
Three members weren’t properly notified. Two had conflicts of interest they didn’t disclose. And the vote itself violated our corporate bylaws. So you can overturn it? If I can get it in front of a judge, yeah. But that requires going back to New York, filing motions, making it public. Are you ready for that? For Amelia closed the laptop. I don’t know.
Going back means walking back into everything I ran from. The pressure, the spotlight, the constant performance. And if I lose if the judge sides with them I’ll have nothing left. You’ll have this. This? Lucas gestured at the farm, the house, the life they’d accidentally built together. This. A place to come back to.
People who give a damn whether you win or lose. Lucas I mean it. You’re not fighting alone anymore. She looked at him for a long moment. Something vulnerable and scared in her expression. What if I mess this up? What if I drag you into something you can’t get out of? Then we’ll deal with it together. You say that now.
I say it because I mean it. Lucas reached over, took her hand. It was the first time he touched her intentionally and her fingers were cold. You saved my home. The least I can do is stand beside you while you fight for yours. Amelia’s breath hitched. For a moment, Lucas thought she might pull away.
Instead, she squeezed his hand back. Thank you. She whispered. They sat like that for a while. Hands linked, watching the stars come out. It felt like a promise neither of them was ready to name. The next morning, Amelia got a call from Patricia. Lucas heard her side of the conversation from the kitchen. Clipped, professional, increasingly frustrated.
No, I understand. Yes, I’ll be there. Friday, fine. Yes, I’ll bring everything. She hung up and stood there staring at her phone. What happened? Lucas asked. The board filed for an emergency injunction. They’re trying to freeze all my assets claiming I’m liquidating company property for personal use. She laughed, bitter and sharp.
Which is nonsense, but they’re making it public. There’s going to be a hearing on Friday in New York. Can you win? If I show up, maybe. If I don’t, they win by default and I lose everything. She looked at him. I have to go back. Lucas felt something sink in his chest. Okay. I’ll be gone a few days. A week, maybe.
