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\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash<\/p>\n
Freddy and Hazel\u2019s sibling relationship broke down when their parents\u2019 will was read, revealing an unfair division of their properties. But after moving into the abandoned place, Freddy discovered a trap door leading to a hidden area that revealed why he was given that home.<\/p>\n
Freddy held on to his poker face like a trained professional. He couldn\u2019t show any kind of reaction to this moment, mainly because his future brother-in-law was gloating like the Cheshire cat beside Freddy\u2019s sister, Hazel.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Schneider, but why did I get the main house?\u201d Hazel interrupted the lawyer before he could finish reading their parents\u2019 will. Freddy saw her fianc\u00e9, Mark, tightening his hold on her knee.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour parents knew that you deserved that house more, babe,\u201d Mark said, smirking slightly.<\/p>\n
\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy does she deserve it more?\u201d The question simply slipped out of Freddy\u2019s lips. He didn\u2019t want to do this, but Mark\u2019s attitude always got on his nerves. He had no idea what Hazel saw in him, especially because everyone else knew Mark was an opportunist.<\/p>\n
Mark rolled his eyes at Freddy\u2019s question. \u201cYour parents met me. They know your sister, and I had plans to get married and have children. All you like is travel. You never brought a girl home, so naturally, the big house should go to a potential family,\u201d he shrugged, still triumphant.<\/p>\n
\u201cMark, that\u2019s not fair,\u201d Hazel began, but she was using her typical timid voice, which had only appeared when she started dating the loser.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s more than fair, babe,\u201d Mark insisted, laughing breathlessly. \u201cWhy are you looking at me like that? I mean, your parents agree, obviously. They did this. Not me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Freddy remained quiet but didn\u2019t have much of a poker face anymore. The lawyer took advantage of the awkward silence to finish reading. Once everything seemed to be done, Hazel raised her hand like a high-schooler.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Hazel,\u201d Mr. Schneider smiled at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cHmmm, maybe it would be better if we both sold those properties and divided the profits,\u201d she suggested, her timidness giving way to more bravery. Freddy was proud of that quiet strength.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou gotta be kidding me,\u201d Mark huffed. \u201cAre you really gonna go against your parents\u2019 wishes? And come on. In this economy, your brother could fix up that house and still get a killing selling it. It\u2019s not a stupid handout. It\u2019s more than fair, considering the circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash<\/p>\n
\u201cMark, maybe you should step out,\u201d Freddy said quietly.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you can talk your sister into something she doesn\u2019t want to do?\u201d Mark asked mockingly. \u201cNo way. No. Doreen and Milton knew that Hazel loved growing up in that house, and they knew our children would be better off there. They never knew if Freddy would want to settle down in this town or even have kids considering\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cConsidering what, Mark?\u201d Freddy asked, gritting his teeth.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know what,\u201d he said, frowning.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I don\u2019t know,\u201d Freddy insisted, leaning forward in his chair.<\/p>\n
\u201cGentlemen, please,\u201d the lawyer said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFreddy,\u201d Hazel warned. \u201cMaybe Mark is right. Our parents were\u2026 old-fashioned.\u201d<\/p>\n
Freddy was stumped for a second. A minute ago, his sister had suggested the most reasonable course of action. If they both sold the properties and divided the profits in half, they could walk away with an equal share of these assets. But she was backtracking, not just because her fianc\u00e9 was such a greedy loser, but also because\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cOld-fashioned? That\u2019s what you\u2019re calling it?\u201d Freddy asked through tight lips.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know what I mean,\u201d Hazel sighed. \u201cThey were not blatant about their opinions. They loved and respected you. But things were different for their generation. They didn\u2019t know how to accept certain things and what would be normal for you. They never knew if you would or could ever have kids that way.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the 21st century, Hazel. They could watch TV and movies and see how it works,\u201d Freddy countered, barely containing his anger.<\/p>\n
\u201cMark is right, Freddy,\u201d Hazel exclaimed as her attitude flowered. Where was that tone when her fianc\u00e9 spoke? \u201cThey left me the big house. You get Dad\u2019s old place. It\u2019s not that bad. It\u2019s a nice neighborhood. And either way, it\u2019s their decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA decision they took because of their prejudices?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStop it!\u201d Hazel frowned. \u201cI will not allow you to talk about them this way. They were old. Things were different. They never learned. You haven\u2019t been around for years, and you don\u2019t get to come here like a spoiled brat and act like you deserve more.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cME? I\u2019m a spoiled brat?\u201d Freddy asked, rising as he pointed at his chest. \u201cYou\u2019re the one that got everything. Everything. Especially after they realized the truth about me. Dad couldn\u2019t even hide his favoritism anymore because his only boy didn\u2019t like football and preferred theater.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe still paid for everything for your stupid plays! All your costumes!\u201d Hazel stated, also rising from her chair. \u201cYou think that was cheap?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t half of what he paid for you!\u201d Freddy said. He knew immediately that his words made him sound like a petulant child \u2014 the spoiled brat, she claimed \u2014 but it was hard to stop them. \u201cIt was always unfair, and this is the final proof. But you know it wasn\u2019t like that always. It started when my personality developed. They knew all from then and changed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hazel\u2019s eyes water. \u201cStop,\u201d she cried. \u201cThey were good parents.\u201d<\/p>\n
Freddy was about to say more, to unleash the pain of all his years on his sister, but his eyes fleeted to Mark. The Cheshire cat grin was back, unconcealed and proud. Mr. Schneider was just weary and concerned.<\/p>\n
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\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n
So, Freddy bit his tongue and waved his hands. \u201cFine. It\u2019ll take the house,\u201d he said, resigned. He plopped his booty back on the chair as the lawyer explained a few things, like what they needed to sign.<\/p>\n
Mark wrapped an arm around Hazel outside his office but looked at Freddy. \u201cI\u2019m glad you finally acted your age, Freddy. This is really what\u2019s best. Now, you can go off, have your fun, and date whomever you want.\u201d<\/p>\n
Freddy\u2019s fist tightened, wanting to say more, but his sister\u2019s face stopped him. She had wiped her tears as their lawyer had gotten back to legal matters and remained expressionless at that moment. However, Hazel wrapped her arm around her fianc\u00e9\u2019s waist, the gesturing showing that she was on his side entirely.<\/p>\n
So, he could only nod tightly at them and walk away.<\/p>\n
Freddy moved into the abandoned house as soon as he received the keys. It was better than he imagined it. His father had bought it for a decent price, but after marrying Doreen, they moved into the big mansion that Hazel inherited.<\/p>\n
It still stung that his parents didn\u2019t think he was good enough to get it. Hell, I\u2019m not good enough to receive a fair split of their estate. But it didn\u2019t matter anymore. It was his new house, and he had to take advantage of it.<\/p>\n
On the first day, Freddy assessed everything that needed repairs and settled on remodeling the bathrooms and the kitchen. But after doing a little research on the internet about renovation costs, he sighed loudly. It would take thousands of dollars to make the place livable again, and that was only on labor costs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI could learn how to do it myself,\u201d he shrugged, reaching for his laptop again. \u201cHow hard could it be?\u201d<\/p>\n
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\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n
Spoiler alert: It was pretty complicated. But Freddy was never one to back down from a challenge, although remodeling was his most complex endeavor ever. He was a theater kid in school and loved anything related to life.<\/p>\n
When life in their town seemed too small and close-minded, Freddy decided to travel the world. He fell in love with photography after buying a professional camera in Budapest and never looked back. He freelanced for several publications, and with the rise of social media, he had a steady income.<\/p>\n
When their parents died out of the blue in a car accident, he flew home to help Hazel get things settled. Freddy had no idea their parents had arranged everything already. And the shock of the inheritance threw him for a loop.<\/p>\n
While he and Hazel hadn\u2019t been in constant contact over the years, they had never been this estranged. It felt awful, but defending their parents\u2019 prejudice and taking her fianc\u00e9\u2019s stance was a bit much. She has to apologize to me. I won\u2019t call her, Freddy promised himself.<\/p>\n
Thus, they didn\u2019t talk for months, although he suspected she was still following his socials, where Freddy documented the renovation process, hoping to prove that many stereotypes weren\u2019t true.<\/p>\n
He was using his hands, and it almost felt like doing artwork, too. Deciding on tiles and placing them in the best arrangement didn\u2019t feel like a job reserved solely for macho men.<\/p>\n
\u201cSee? A theater kid with no callouses on his fingers can do this, too,\u201d Freddy said after finishing one wall. \u201cBut boy, it\u2019s so much work!\u201d<\/p>\n
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\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n
Two weeks later, Freddy finished the kitchen and moved to the bathrooms. But he stared at the main one for a long time, sighing. Renovating was a lot of work, and the bathroom seemed trickier than changing a few cabinets and the tiles. Perhaps he should invest money in professional remodelers.<\/p>\n
\u201cHmmm, maybe I can do something else,\u201d he wondered, walking through the house talking to himself. \u201cThe bedrooms need new paint certainly. And the floor. Wait, what is that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Freddy had just entered a small room, which must have been intended as a home office. But it was the first time he took it in and saw a strange protrusion in a corner. \u201cUgh, don\u2019t tell me this floor is rotten or something. How much will that cost?\u201d he lamented, thinking the rest of his inheritance would have to be spent on real construction work.<\/p>\n
He bent a knee and touched the strange unevenness on the floorboards, and surprisingly, his hand went through the floor. \u201cYuck! It is rotten,\u201d Freddy noted, wiping his hands. But when he focused again, he realized a strange hollowness that shouldn\u2019t have existed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d Freddy muttered aloud and got his phone. With his flashlight, he took a better look and saw\u2026 stairs leading into the darkness.<\/p>\n
\u201cNOPE! NOPE! NOPE!\u201d he said, standing and walking away. His feet took him straight to his cupboard while shaking his head. Then, he unearthed a blanket and went back to cover the hole. \u201cNo, sir! No Barbarian is going to take this twink away!\u201d<\/p>\n
He exited, closed the door tightly, put a chair against it, and went to his room.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s remodel this bathroom!\u201d Freddy exclaimed and tried to put that staircase out of his mind.<\/p>\n
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\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Schneider, how do I find the floor plans for this house?\u201d Freddy asked the lawyer days later. Although he tried not to think about the staircase, it was impossible. But he wasn\u2019t brave enough to remove the rest of the rotten floorboards and go down.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I believe you can find one at the municipal office. Why? Is there something wrong with the house?\u201d Mr. Schneider wondered.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. Well,\u201d he paused. What could he say? \u201cI think I discovered a basement, but it was hidden tightly beneath the floor. And I didn\u2019t want to explore. You know, in horror movies, when you start screaming at the girl not to go into that dark room or downstairs? That\u2019s how I felt.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI see. But if it\u2019s there, it was probably a basement,\u201d Mr. Schneider commented, unconcerned. \u201cMy father\u2019s old house had a bomb shelter that we didn\u2019t know about until he died. Built it right during World War I.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd how old is this house?\u201d Freddy asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not sure,\u201d the lawyer replied. \u201cI could do some digging. I may be able to find the floor plans for you, Freddy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Mr. Schneider,\u201d he sighed happily. \u201cI\u2019m also remodeling on my own, so I need to know what\u2019s down there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know. My daughter follows your Instagram,\u201d Mr. Schneider chuckled. \u201cGive me a few days.\u201d<\/p>\n
Several days later, Mr. Schneider sent the floor plans, and as suspected, the house always had a basement. But instead of adding a door like any other house, they placed the staircase beneath a sort of trap door.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis could\u2019ve been a request from the original owner,\u201d the lawyer speculated, but they had no way to find out the truth. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to look down there. Just replace the trap door and forget about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Freddy couldn\u2019t forget it. Something in his mind started at him as if that room down there was why their parents had given him that house. It could also be wishful thinking on his part. He wanted to have a better image of them.<\/p>\n
So, he took a slash hammer and destroyed all the rotten parts, which corresponded with the size of the trap door. The rest of the floor seemed normal enough. \u201cOh, man. I bet it\u2019s flooded down there,\u201d Freddy muttered as he started going down.<\/p>\n
He had his phone flashlight out and could smell the heavy scent of mildew and moisture in the air. \u201cGreat, this will be more money,\u201d he muttered as he reached the bottom of the stairs. From what he could tell, it was just a regular room.<\/p>\n
Except\u2026there was a desk in the middle, littered with papers and an old-fashioned typewriter. \u201cSpooky, but\u2026 interesting,\u201d Freddy muttered, rolling his eyes at the idea that he had been the typical female main character in a horror flick.<\/p>\n
But this was very interesting. Did Dad know about this place? Freddy wondered as his hands reached for one of the sheets on the desk. It had a small poem, and at the bottom of the page, he saw the name Milton.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe wrote this?\u201d he asked the empty air. Other papers had more poems, some longer than others, but they all had Freddy\u2019s father\u2019s name at the end. Just his first name. The grin that touched his face was beautiful. His father had been a poet and a writer. It seemed impossible.<\/p>\n
Freddy grabbed a bunch of papers, piling them to take upstairs, but he unexpectedly revealed an ornate box. \u201cOh, another secret,\u201d he whispered, excited. He placed the papers under his arm and grabbed the box.<\/p>\n
His feet rushed him upstairs. He lay on his bed, reading through the words his late dad had written. They were gorgeous and some much more flowery than Freddy imagined. Some of them were tear-jerkers, and their depth was shocking.<\/p>\n
Freddy\u2019s father, with his old-fashioned, conservative values, had been an artist, just like his son. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d he whispered, rubbing his chin. Finally, he put the sheets of paper down and remembered the ornate box.<\/p>\n
The latch was a bit stuck and rusted, but Freddy opened it and sneezed at the dust that gathered. After blinking away, he saw more pages stored neatly on the inside. They had yellowed over the years but were in much better shape than the scattered poems.<\/p>\n
And then, Freddy realized what they were\u2026 pages of a book, a full-length novel his father had written and stored all his life.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that why they kept this place?\u201d he wondered and remembered the last words his father had spoken to him before he left home:<\/p>\n
\u201cOne day, you\u2019ll understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the time, he thought it had something to do with their biases and why they treated him so differently. But now\u2026<\/p>\n
So, Freddy arranged himself better to start reading the novel. The poems were pushed aside, as he didn\u2019t want anything messing up the order. After a couple of hours reading the most entrancing words Freddy had seen in years, he realized something even more shocking than the horror movie staircase, the secret poems, and the ornate box.<\/p>\n
This book was a love story between two men. The power of the descriptions and the angst within these sentences rocked Freddy to the core. \u201cWhat does this mean?\u201d he asked, his hands itching to call Hazel. But he quickly remembered their fight.<\/p>\n
Did she know about this? Did Mom? Why did Dad write this? Why did he keep it a secret?<\/p>\n
With a start, Freddy understood the truth. His father hid a big part of himself. Perhaps he had to lie all his life, and when his own son showed the same inclinations, he got angry.<\/p>\n
Unlike him, Freddy could be himself in full glory. He could date in public and be a different kid because the world was much different. Did Dad resent me or his time? Did he wish he could\u2019ve lived like me?<\/p>\n
Again, Freddy wished to call Hazel desperately; this time, he didn\u2019t stop himself. The phone rang several times before he realized it was 1 a.m., but she answered before he could hang up.<\/p>\n
\u201cFreddy?! Is everything alright?\u201d Hazel said, sounding sleepy and worried.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, God. Hazel, I didn\u2019t see the time. I\u2019m so sorry,\u201d he apologized.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, don\u2019t worry. What\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHazie, I just discovered something, and I need to show you,\u201d Freddy said, swallowing. \u201cI think it\u2019s the real reason Dad left me this house. It was Dad\u2019s decision, not Mom\u2019s. I\u2019m sure of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFreddy, I don\u2019t want to hear how prejudiced our parents were again,\u201d Hazel said, weary. \u201cI want to make up with you, so let\u2019s not bring up this argument.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs he still whining about the house? What a cupcake!\u201d Freddy heard Mark in the background, being his obnoxious self. But he tried to ignore it.<\/p>\n
\u201cHazie, come to my house tomorrow. Without him,\u201d Freddy said tightly. \u201cThis is huge and should stay between us for now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan you just tell me a little bit?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Hazie. Please. It\u2019s too big to say over the phone in the middle of the night,\u201d he sighed, slightly frustrated.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is he asking?\u201d Mark\u2019s voice was louder this time. Hazel told him something away from the phone, and he was obviously arguing with her. After a bit of scuffle, his voice was crystal clear. \u201cWhat\u2019s this about, Freddy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s none of your business,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re talking to my wife. It is my business.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFianc\u00e9e,\u201d Freddy corrected, silently wishing Hazel would finally get rid of him.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot really,\u201d he insisted. \u201cAnd anyway, this is something between siblings. Go back to sleep in the expensive Egyptian sheets you didn\u2019t have to buy, moocher.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWHAT DID YOU\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
Freddy hung up and immediately placed his phone on airplane mode. Staring at his bedroom, illuminated only by the lamp on his bedside table, he wondered if Hazel should know about this. He didn\u2019t want Mark to know anything about this for some reason. It was too\u2026 intimate. Their father\u2019s secret wasn\u2019t something he wanted to discuss with him.<\/p>\n
But even if Hazel came alone, she would surely tell him about it later or manipulate her until she did. Freddy wondered for the millionth time why she was still with him. He was controlling, opportunistic, serially unemployed, and far from charming.<\/p>\n
His mind turned to other avenues. Was his sister being abused? Freddy shook his head, not really believing it. Mark had little to no spine, so it was easy to dismiss that thought. But if she heeded his words by some miracle and came alone, he would ask her.<\/p>\n
Freddy\u2019s eyes widened when he saw Hazel standing outside his house\u2026alone. \u201cYou really came here alone?\u201d he asked, unable to hide his surprise.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d she rolled her eyes. \u201cDespite what you think, Mark doesn\u2019t control me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could\u2019ve fooled me,\u201d he quipped.<\/p>\n
Hazel narrowed her eyes. \u201cI\u2019ll leave if this is another fight about the inheritance,\u201d she said, crossing her arms. \u201cI think they left me the house because I always talked to Mom about raising kids in a similar place. Our parents weren\u2019t the savviest people about social matters, but they knew Mark and I wouldn\u2019t have been able to buy a house like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Freddy gestured for her to come in. \u201cI know you love that house and always did,\u201d he started and cleared his throat. \u201cBut I don\u2019t think that\u2019s why you got it. Or maybe it is. Whatever. But I know from the bottom of my heart that Dad wanted me to have this house for a whole different reason.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hazel pursed her lips. \u201cDad? You and Dad were like oil and water.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I think I know why, Hazie,\u201d Freddy said, starting to smile. Hazel matched his grin, and just like any other siblings, their squabble was forgotten. \u201cLet me show you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He gestured for her to wait and went to his room, retrieving the poems and the ornate box where he had stored the novel after reading it. He returned to see Hazel looking around the new kitchen, distracting him for a second. \u201cYou like it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t believe you did all this on your own,\u201d she said. \u201cIt has your taste, but I always thought it was harder and too rough.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMe too,\u201d Freddy shrugged. \u201cSome things were pretty rough. I had to force some things and got a few cuts. Still, it was fun.\u201d He shrugged.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m impressed, and if you keep it up, this house will be awesome,\u201d Hazel nodded, touching the new tiles.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome here,\u201d Freddy got back to business. \u201cOkay, so. When I finished the kitchen, I was so tired that the prospect of doing the bathrooms myself was impossible. So, I started detailing the other rooms in this house. That one,\u201d he pointed toward the hallway, \u201cis like an office, I think.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, what\u2019s that?\u201d Hazel\u2019s eyes widened as they looked into the room, and she noticed the hole on the floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the surprise. This house had a hidden basement. It was in the original plans \u2014 Mr. Schneider acquired them for me \u2014 but the trap door was rotten. At first, I didn\u2019t even want to go down there. But I had a feeling,\u201d Freddy began to explain.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you crazy? Is this a horror movie?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSee? You and I are on the same wavelength because that\u2019s exactly what I thought,\u201d he said, laughing loudly. \u201cStill, I went down and found all this. Look\u201d<\/p>\n
Hazel took the papers and scanned them. \u201cPoems? Oh, these are beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRight? There\u2019s a typewriter downstairs, too,\u201d Freddy continued. \u201cBut look at the bottom.<\/p>\n
\u201cMilton,\u201d she read. \u201cMILTON? DAD?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly!\u201d Freddy snapped his fingers.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo! There\u2019s no way,\u201d Hazel smiled with a slacked jaw as she passed the papers more quickly.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut there\u2019s more, Hazie,\u201d Freddy called her attention. \u201cThis. Dad wrote a full novel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re kidding,\u201d she whispered with wide eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere,\u201d Freddy opened the box. They sat on the old couch so Hazel could examine things better. \u201cI spent all night reading it. I was halfway through when I called you because something became clear.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d his sister wondered, leafing through the papers.<\/p>\n
\u201cHazie, it\u2019s a love story,\u201d Freddy said carefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, that\u2019s beautiful,\u201d she commented, not understanding. \u201cI wonder why he never published it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHazie,\u201d he insisted and waited until his sister looked up. \u201cIt\u2019s a love story between two men who go to war.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hazel didn\u2019t react for half a minute as she digested his words. \u201cThat\u2019s\u2026not\u2026possible,\u201d she mumbled.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s true. I already finished it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut Dad was\u2026I mean,\u201d she trailed off and wet her lips. \u201cI don\u2019t want to say the word, but Dad had very strong \u2014 negative \u2014 opinions about relationships between same-sex couples.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the thing I wanted to talk to you about, Hazie,\u201d Freddy murmured but looked into her eyes instead of saying anything else.<\/p>\n
She frowned at first, but the implication was too obvious. \u201cFrederick! That\u2019s even more impossible! No!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t you see?\u201d he asked, shaking his head. \u201cIt\u2019s the answer to the inheritance. Dad gave me this house because he wanted me to find this story.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hazel released a breath, placed the ornate box and the papers on the coffee table, and stood. Her hands were on her waist as she paced through the living room. \u201cNo, no, no, no\u2026\u201d she mumbled. \u201cLook, obviously. I have nothing against you. I love you, and who you love is just part of who you are. But Dad\u2026being gay is unbelievable.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know. That\u2019s why I called, but I want you to read and take in this book,\u201d Freddy said, touching the box. \u201cI think Dad was struggling with so much, and he had to live a secret life because times were different. I think he projected all he felt \u2014 his self-loathing \u2014 on me because I was free to do what I wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hazel stopped pacing, and her eyes were full of pain. \u201cWhat about Mom? Did he force himself to marry her and have a family?\u201d she lamented.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Hazie. I think he loved her, but it was different,\u201d Freddy soothed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt makes sense,\u201d Hazel finally sighed, \u201cyour theory about the house, I mean. Dad wanted you to find out about himself, which means that he never had anything against you. He just was dealing with a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not exactly happy with how he treated me all my life, but I kinda get it now,\u201d Freddy explained. \u201cBut this book, Hazie, makes me think he greatly loved someone. I know Dad never went to war, but perhaps he used war as a metaphor for something else. I want you to read this, and if you\u2019re okay with it, I want to publish it with his name and everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, God,\u201d Hazel\u2019s voice broke. \u201cThat sounds beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHazie, but\u2026hmmm\u2026 I don\u2019t want you to tell your fianc\u00e9 just yet,\u201d Freddy stated.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMark\u2019s comments at Mr. Schneider\u2019s office were concerning, Sis,\u201d he replied. \u201cAnd you know I don\u2019t like him as a person nor as your future husband. This is our thing, not his.\u201d<\/p>\n
The front door swung open forcefully, reminding Freddy they had never closed it. But this was a nice neighborhood. However, Mark\u2019s figure was now in his living room, too, and his voice was loud and grating as he demanded, \u201cWhat are you trying to make my wife hide from me?!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFuture wife,\u201d Freddy muttered, deadpanned.<\/p>\n
Mark gritted his teeth, but Hazel didn\u2019t let him say anything to her brother.<\/p>\n
\u201cMark! What are you doing here?\u201d Hazel said, disappointed. \u201cI told you I needed to talk to my brother.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m here because you\u2019re about to be my wife, and I have a right to know what\u2019s going on!\u201d Mark blubbered, as he had no excuse for coming here. \u201cI see that he\u2019s making you hide things from your future husband. That\u2019s not healthy!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s not asking me to hide anything,\u201d Hazel rolled her eyes. \u201cHe told me something he doesn\u2019t want others to know right now. You know, something private!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you roll your eyes at me?\u201d Mark asked and took a step closer to her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t do that,\u201d Freddy warned as he walked to stand in front of his sister.<\/p>\n
Mark barked a laugh. \u201cWhat? Do you think I was going to hurt her? HA! You\u2019re crazy!\u201d<\/p>\n
Freddy shrugged. \u201cI don\u2019t care what you call me. Now, get out of my house before I call the police. You\u2019re not invited and just broke in.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t break in!\u201d Mark retorted, his eyes going wild. \u201cIt was open!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFine, trespassing, then,\u201d Freddy conceded. \u201cEither way, I\u2019m calling the cops.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m your brother-in-law!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot yet,\u201d Freddy added, turning his head to look for his phone. \u201cAnd hopefully not ever.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHazel! Are you going to let him talk to me like that?\u201d Mark asked, offended.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s his house, Mark,\u201d Hazel said matter-of-factly. \u201cYou weren\u2019t invited and just walked in. Go home, now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExcuse me?\u201d he said, taking a step back. His expression was the picture of fake victimhood. \u201cI see your brother is once again poisoning your mind against me. That\u2019s why your parents didn\u2019t want to give him the house, so you wouldn\u2019t have to deal with him again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Freddy had finally found his phone and dialed the police.<\/p>\n
Hazel sighed. \u201cYou have no idea what you\u2019re talking about. Please, I\u2019ll tell you in time,\u201d she said calmly. \u201cThis is just something between siblings.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t care!\u201d Mark yelled petulantly. His eyes went to the papers on the sofa, and his body started for them. \u201cWhat is this secret? It\u2019s in these papers, right?\u201d His hands took the sheets and started handling them carelessly.<\/p>\n
\u201cMark! Careful!\u201d Hazel exclaimed, worried.<\/p>\n
Freddy threw his phone away and grabbed Mark\u2019s arms tightly. \u201cLet them go! NOW!\u201d he screamed in his future brother-in-law\u2019s face, showing his contempt for the jobless loser. His hold tightened on Mark\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n
\u201cHazel, tell him he\u2019s hurting me!\u201d Mark whined, and Freddy knew he was afraid. \u201cI will press charges if you keep it up!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLET GO, SPINELESS IDIOT!\u201d Freddy demanded again angrily.<\/p>\n
\u201cMark! DO IT! These are important! Let go!\u201d Hazel begged, pulling her fianc\u00e9 by his upper arms.<\/p>\n
Finally, his hands opened, and the papers flew back down to the couch. Freddy moved quickly, piling and holding them close to his heart, along with the ornate box.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will not say this again,\u201d Freddy warned, feeling his chest moving up and down with the force of the exertion and his anger. \u201cGet out of my house!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNO! I DEMAND TO KNOW WHAT\u2019S THAT!\u201d Mark screamed but immediately got quiet, thinking of something. \u201cI see how it is! You found something in this house! It\u2019s worth a lot of money! And you don\u2019t want to share it!\u201d<\/p>\n
Freddy breathed heavily while Hazel lightly hit Mark\u2019s arm. \u201cAre you insane? And anyway, if Freddy found anything here, it would be his legally,\u201d she commented.<\/p>\n
\u201cShut the hell up! Don\u2019t you see? He\u2019s trying to screw us again like he wanted with the house. He tried to manipulate you into selling your favorite place in the world,\u201d Mark insisted, smiling as he got heated. This was always his tactic: confuse and manipulate his fiancee to get his way. \u201cAnd whatever those things are, he\u2019s getting you to hide them from me so I won\u2019t act in your best interest.\u201d<\/p>\n
Freddy rolled his eyes, but Hazel was quiet. Tell me she\u2019s not falling for that, he begged to the heavens.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know I\u2019m right, babe,\u201d Mark said, leaning close to Hazel\u2019s ear. \u201cHe\u2019s always hated me because you love me more than him. And he\u2019s trying to separate us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHazie, tell me you\u2019re not falling for that bull,\u201d Freddy crossed his arms. \u201cEven if you were dating an actual good guy, I wouldn\u2019t have invited him today. This secret is too precious for anyone else.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSee? See? He keeps insulting me without care,\u201d Mark pointed at him accusingly. \u201cAnd you okay with that? Babe, you and I are partners. We love each other. We\u2019re going to have a family. I wouldn\u2019t want my children around someone who talks badly about me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis ridiculous!\u201d Freddy exclaimed, getting angrier at his sister\u2019s silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, babe. Tell me the secret. If it\u2019s money, we\u2019ll get our own lawyer, not that idiot, Schneider. We\u2019ll get whatever he has,\u201d Mark continued, smiling widely. But he made a mistake revealing his real purpose: to find out if there\u2019s money involved.<\/p>\n
\u201cENOUGH!\u201d Hazel screamed and pushed him away. Mark lost balance and plopped on the sofa. \u201cGod, I\u2019m so tired of you! I can\u2019t believe how long I\u2019ve dealt with your idiocy!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d Mark blubbered, staring up at his fiancee in surprise.<\/p>\n
\u201cWE\u2019RE DONE!\u201d she continued yelling. \u201cAll you cared about was money! All the time! You schmoozed my father and whined when he didn\u2019t help you get your desired job. Do you know why he did that? Because he hated you! Mom hated you, too, not just Freddy. They were just trying to be nice!\u201d<\/p>\n
The floods had opened, and Hazel didn\u2019t stop. She called out everything he had ever done that showed who he really was, including how he proposed and hasn\u2019t held a job since. \u201cYou thought you were secure now with my family\u2019s money!\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark just sat there and looked wide-eyed at Freddy at one point. If he were looking for help, he would certainly not find it in him. Hazel brought up other issues, some of which made Freddy chuckle, but he tried to cover them up.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is all your brother\u2019s influence!\u201d Mark interjected.<\/p>\n
\u201cNO! THIS IS ALL ME! ALL ME!\u201d Hazel shouted into the air before losing steam. \u201cFinally ME! Again! I can\u2019t believe all the red flags I ignored. For what? For fear of being alone? That doesn\u2019t make sense.\u201d<\/p>\n
She breathed quickly and turned to Freddy. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry about the house. I\u2019ve always wanted it, but I actually thought about selling it when Mr. Schneider read the will. I now realize why. It\u2019s because I didn\u2019t want him,\u201d Hazel pointed at Mark, \u201cto live there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Hazie,\u201d Freddy said, biting his lip.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut Mom and Dad were gone. I didn\u2019t know if you would fly away again on your adventures,\u201d she cried openly. \u201cI thought I was stuck. But I\u2019m not. If my father was strong enough to tell you his truth in his own sneaky way, I\u2019m strong enough to get off this finally\u2026this\u2026 this loser!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHazel!\u201d Mark questioned, rising from the couch.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet out of here and out of my house!\u201d Hazel demanded chrilly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s my house, too!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not married!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll fight you on this!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll get Mr. Schneider on the phone right now,\u201d Freddy announced and didn\u2019t hesitate to dial their lawyer to explain the situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cFinally,\u201d the older man breathed. \u201cConsider it taken care of.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMY RING! I WANT MY RING BACK!\u201d Mark insisted, looking lost and clueless.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour ring? It was my grandmother\u2019s ring! And IT\u2019S MINE!\u201d Hazel screamed, but she grabbed his arm this time and started pulling him to the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cFreddy, tell her she\u2019s insane,\u201d the spineless worm pleaded, and Freddy couldn\u2019t only laugh in his face.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s finally sane. Good riddance, loser!\u201d he said mockingly until Mark was outside and Hazel slammed the door in his face. She leaned her back on the door and settled her breathing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I need to stay here until Mr. Schneider gets rid of him,\u201d Hazel said quietly.<\/p>\n
\u201cStay as long as you need,\u201d Freddy said and opened his arms widely. She ran into them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for finally snapping out of this trance,\u201d he sighed into her hair.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow,\u201d Hazel pulled back. \u201cCan we order some Chinese? I want to sit, eat, and read Dad\u2019s novel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDeal.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was surprisingly easy to publish their father\u2019s novel. Freddy contacted a couple of publishers with LGBTQ+ owners and told them the entire story. They were immediately interested and offered him and Hazel a good deal.<\/p>\n
She had also finished it one night and cried in Freddy\u2019s arms. \u201cI wish he could\u2019ve lived his true self without pain, prejudice, or worry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMe too,\u201d he cried a bit.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry that he projected all that frustration on you, Freddy,\u201d Hazel apologized, and he only nodded.<\/p>\n
When the money came in, Hazel gave Freddy her part. \u201cI want to keep the big house. Dad also gave this to you. So, you should keep this money.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHazie, are you sure?\u201d he asked, concerned. \u201cThis could be a hit.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, if someone wants to make a movie, I want in on that deal,\u201d his sister laughed. \u201cBut the royalties from the book, they\u2019re all yours.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr. Schneider kept his promise, ensuring Mark would never bother them again. They heard through the grapevine that he had moved away, probably to find another wealthy woman to manipulate. It didn\u2019t matter as long as he never contacted Hazel again.<\/p>\n
Freddy finished remodeling his house and felt the itch to travel again, so he rented to a lovely couple and left for almost a year. When he returned, Hazel was already dating a new guy who was successful, responsible, and a decent human being. He also adored Freddy\u2019s sister, and that\u2019s all that mattered.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Freddy and Hazel\u2019s sibling relationship broke down when their parents\u2019 will was read, revealing an unfair division of their properties. But after moving into the abandoned place, Freddy discovered a trap door leading to a hidden area that revealed why he was given that home. Freddy held on to his poker face like a trained […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9810","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9810","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9810"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9810\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9818,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9810\/revisions\/9818"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9810"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9810"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9810"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}