Chapter 6
Logan stepped onto the porch despite Chelsea’s warning.
“Dad,” he called.
Albert paused with one hand on the car door.
Chelsea appeared behind Logan immediately.
Her face was tight now, no longer polished for guests.
“Logan, get inside.”
He ignored her.
That alone made her stiffen.
Albert turned slowly.
“Yes?”
Logan looked suddenly younger than thirty-nine.
“What paperwork?”
Albert’s expression did not harden.
That would have been easier for Logan.
Instead, his father looked tired.
“Your paperwork.”
Chelsea crossed her arms.
“Meaning what?”
Albert’s eyes moved to her.
“Meaning the documents you said did not exist when you told your guests I owned nothing.”
Chelsea flushed.
“I said you didn’t own anything in this house.”
“I heard you.”
“Then explain yourself.”
Albert’s voice remained even.
“No.”
Chelsea blinked.
Logan did too.
Albert had spent years explaining.
Clarifying.
Rescuing.
Fixing.
Making things easier.
No was not a word they associated with him.
He continued, “Your attorney can request copies through proper channels.”
Logan swallowed.
“Attorney?”
Albert looked at him with quiet sadness.
“You chose the doorway, Logan. I’m choosing process.”
The word process frightened Chelsea more than anger would have.
Anger fades.
Process arrives with envelopes, signatures, and deadlines.
Logan took one step down.
“Dad, wait. We can talk.”
Albert looked at the open front door behind him, the dining guests visible in the warm interior light.
“We could have.”
That sentence reached Logan deeper than any accusation.
Albert got into the car and closed the door.
Chelsea stood frozen on the porch.
May you like
For the first time, the house looked too large around her.
Read the full story 👉 Albert refused to explain at the doorway because Logan had chosen silence when explanation still mattered.
