Chapter 4
Chapter 4: The Library Meeting
Barby meets a stranger at the library who claims to be a descendant of Thomas Hartley. The woman, Laura, shares letters and a journal that reveal a deeper connection between Margaret and Thomas, and a hidden deed to the land. Barby learns that the old house might rightfully belong to the Hartley family, setting up a new conflict.
The morning sun cast long shadows across the library steps as Barby arrived, her heart a steady drum against her ribs. She had not told Ken she was coming alone; he would have insisted on joining her, and the text had been clear: Come alone. She clutched the strap of her bag, the weight of Margaret’s confession and the photograph of Thomas and Margaret pressing against her side like a secret she could not yet share.
The library was quiet, the scent of old paper and dust familiar from her years of teaching. She found a table near the window where she could see the entrance, and waited. Ten minutes passed. Fifteen. She began to wonder if it was a prank, or worse, a warning. Then the door swung open and a woman stepped in, her dark hair streaked with gray, her face lined but kind. She carried a leather satchel and walked with a purposeful grace.
“Barby?” The woman’s voice was soft, hesitant. “I’m Laura Hartley. Thomas Hartley’s great-granddaughter.”
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