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The second chest held another check and a note explaining that all the toys we’d ever received were his own handiwork. The third chest was filled with letters—love notes between him and my grandmother, full of dreams, struggles, and devotion. I read them by lantern light, weeping. Their love was etched into every board of that farmhouse.
The fourth chest nearly broke me. After hours of frustration, I solved it. Inside was another check and a letter hinting at a secret life.
The final chest consumed me for days. When I finally cracked it, my hands trembled as I unfolded the letter.
“I built this farm with your grandmother because it was our dream. Along the way, I discovered woodworking—first toys, then puzzle boxes, eventually safes for collectors. That’s how I earned more than anyone guessed. Maybe it’s selfish, but I believe this life will be good for you. You don’t have to farm—you can write, you can dream. Let the quiet give you strength, as it gave me. I’ve made sure you’ll have enough. Whatever you choose, I’ll be loving you from the other side. Always, Grandpa.”
I pressed the letter to my chest and sobbed. He remembered my dream of writing when no one else did. He had built a legacy not just of land, but of love and creativity.
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