My husband had strictly forbidden me from visiting his farm, but after his death the lawyer handed me the keys and said, “Now it’s yours.” I planned to sell it, but out of curiosity I decided to visit first. When I opened the door, I lost my breath, because inside was… – INFO DESK

“What is this?” I asked, turning the heavy key in my palm.

“Your husband purchased a property in Alberta, Canada, three years ago. According to his instructions, you were only to be informed of its existence after his passing.” Mr. Winters adjusted his glasses. “The deed has been transferred to your name. All taxes are paid for the next five years.”

“A property in Canada?” I struggled to process the information. Joshua didn’t own any property outside of our home.

“It’s called Maple Creek Farm. Apparently, it was his childhood home, though the deed shows it changed hands several times before he repurchased it.”

The farm. The place he’d forbidden me to visit—the place that had caused his gentle face to harden whenever it was mentioned.

“Mrs. Mitchell, there’s something else you should know.” Mr. Winters lowered his voice. “The property has become quite valuable recently. There have already been inquiries about its availability.”

“Valuable? It’s a farm.”

“Yes. But according to my information, significant oil deposits were discovered in the region about eighteen months ago. Your husband declined multiple offers from energy companies.”

My head spun with questions. Joshua had never mentioned oil, money, or any property purchase. We’d lived comfortably on his engineering salary and my income as a high school English teacher, but we were hardly wealthy. How had he afforded to buy a farm? And why keep it secret from me?

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