I realized then that the money didn’t matter. The jars didn’t matter.

What mattered was that for the first time in my life, I wasn’t just the one who stood by and let things happen.

I was the one holding the keys.

I left the jars on the table. I went to the fridge and poured myself a glass of tea.

I stood by the window and watched the moon rise over the old mill.

I don’t know what I am going to do tomorrow.

I might drive to Spartanburg. I might just go to work like it’s any other day.

I might even call Wanda.

“I found them,” I could say.

I could hear her voice already. She would scream. She would cry. She would tell me it wasn’t fair.

But she would be wrong.

Everything is finally exactly where it belongs.

I looked at the twelve jars lined up on the table. They looked like little soldiers guarding the secrets of a woman who had seen everything coming.

I turned off the kitchen light.

The house is quiet now.

I think I’ll sleep tonight.