Amber studied me for several moments.

“What would you pay us?”

“Fair market value for your shares,” I answered. “One hundred and thirteen thousand each. I will have it appraised independently so neither of you is taking my word for the valuation.”

Derek leaned back.

“Where are you getting the money?”

“A combination of refinancing and savings. I’ve already spoken with a lender.”

“You’ve already talked to a lender?”

“I wanted to know whether it was possible before I brought it to you. I didn’t want to make promises I couldn’t keep.”

He exchanged a glance with Maya.

Maya looked down at the untouched coffee cake.

“I need time to think about it,” Derek finally said.

“Of course. I’m not asking for an answer today.”

Amber agreed she also wanted time.

Her voice sounded warmer than before, though I reminded myself that kindness and agreement weren’t necessarily the same thing.

They left shortly after two.

I stayed behind.

Sitting in Dad’s armchair, positioned at the exact angle that eased his bad hip, I looked around the quiet living room and wondered whether I was truly ready to take on everything that came with keeping this place.

For Derek and Amber, the house had never carried the same memories. They hadn’t grown up here. The creek wasn’t part of their childhood. The rooster tiles were simply old kitchen tiles.

There was nothing wrong with that.

They had known our father differently than I had.

I wasn’t offering to buy their shares because they were wrong to want the money.

I was offering because, for me, the money had never been the most important part.

That was my choice.

And it was equally their right to judge my offer however they wished.

Two weeks passed.

During that time Derek called once with a few questions about the financing. I answered every one directly.

Amber texted me twice.

Neither message mentioned the house.

That alone told me she was still thinking.

Then Derek called again.

He said he’d spent time considering everything and had also spoken with a financial advisor.

In the end, he admitted the truth.

He needed the money now more than he needed future rental income or the emotional value the house held for me.

“I want to accept your offer,” he said.

“Okay,” I replied. “Thank you for thinking about it carefully.”

“Sophie…”

He hesitated.

“I know this place meant something different to you. I’m glad you told us that.”

I held the phone quietly.

“He was proud of you,” I said. “He told me.”

There was a long pause.

“He told me too,” Derek answered softly. “About you.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

We simply shared the silence left behind by a father who had always found his own way of showing up for each of us.

Amber called the very next day.