When Carol’s lawyer called to tell her that her stepmother Linda had died, her life would never be the same again. But what shocked everyone even more was that Linda had only left Amanda and Becca $5,000 each in her will, while leaving Carol her $2.5 million holiday house.
Carol had always felt like she didn’t belong in her own home when she was a child. Because her dad got married again to Linda, Amanda and Becca came into their lives, and they seemed to be the centre of attention. It was clear that Linda liked her girls more than Carol, and Carol often felt like she wasn’t seen or loved.
Carol had a hard time finding her place as she dealt with her difficult family relationships. When she tried to connect with Amanda and Becca, they looked down on her, and Linda’s lack of interest felt like rejection to her. Carol was able to get away from her bad home setting only after she went to college.
After many years, Linda’s lawyer’s call brought it all back. The gift surprised and confused Carol, and she couldn’t help but wonder why Linda had made such an odd choice. Carol found a sealed letter in Linda’s office that had the answer.
In the message, Linda admitted that she had been a bad wife and said she was sorry for the hurt she had caused Carol. Giving Carol the holiday home was her way of making things right, and Carol was moved by it. Even though Linda said she was sorry, she thought it was too late.
As Carol thought about how hard it was to get along with Linda, she understood that the gift wasn’t just about the money or the land. It was about getting better, putting things to rest, and taking back a part of her father’s heritage. Carol was thankful for that.
Carol’s story shows how powerful healing can be and how important it is to make things right. The last thing Linda did was not perfect, but it was a step in the right way. It was also a chance for Carol to get better and move on.
