The lilies from the funeral were still fresh when my children began calling. My son, David, spoke like a man handling a business deal, already suggesting that I sell the house “for everyone’s benefit.” My daughter followed soon after, with sweet words about “helping the family” and “planning for the future.” I listened in silence, my heart still heavy with the loss of their mother. I knew they meant well in their own way, but I also knew that Margaret had always believed true wealth wasn’t measured in money or property—it was measured in peace, kindness, and the ability to stand on one’s own feet.
That evening, I sat alone in her study, the room still filled with her warmth and scent. In the bottom drawer of her desk, I found a pale blue folder with her handwriting on it: “If you’re reading this, it’s time you knew what’s inside.” Inside were documents I had never seen before—proof of a small house by the sea and a letter written just for me. In her gentle words, she explained that the house and savings were meant for me to start over, to live quietly, to paint, to garden, and to find joy again in the simple rhythm of life.




