Chapter 3: The Woman Who Recognized the Watch
My aunt Lorraine had not dropped anything in front of other people in twenty years.
She was the kind of woman who could carry a full dinner tray through a crowded room without spilling a glass. She ironed her own handkerchiefs. She kept emergency sewing kits in three different purses.
Even at my mother's funeral, when I was seventeen and crying so hard I couldn't stand, Lorraine had remained upright, her gloved hands folded over the handle of her umbrella.
So when her bouquet hit the floor, scattering white rose petals across the gold-trimmed tile, I knew the sight of that watch had frightened her.
Not surprised her.
Frightened her.
"Aunt Lorraine," I said.
She didn't answer.
Her gaze moved from the watch in my hand to the key between my fingers. Then she looked at Josiah, and the color drained from her face.
"Where did you get those?""
Her voice was barely audible.
I stepped toward her.
"That's what I've been trying to find out.""
Lorraine shook her head.
"No. No, Ava. You need to give those to me.""
"Why?""
"Because you don't understand what you're holding.""
"Then explain it.""
She reached for my wrist.
I stepped back.
The movement startled her more than a shout would have.
"Ava, please," she whispered.
"Not here.""
"Where, then? At the reception? After I marry Marcus? After everybody goes home and you tell me to stop asking questions again?""
Her lips parted.
Around us, guests had begun gathering near the chapel entrance. A few pretended to examine the floral arrangements. Others openly watched us.
Denise moved toward the doorway.
"Everyone, please return to your seats," she said, forcing a calm smile.
"We're handling a small family matter.""
"No," I said.
My voice carried farther than I expected.
"Nobody is returning to their seats until somebody tells me why my dead father's watch is in this child's hands.""
The foyer went quiet.
Lorraine closed her eyes.
Marcus stepped between us, placing a hand on my elbow.
"Baby, let's go somewhere private.""
I pulled away.
"Don't call me that right now.""
His hand dropped.
For the first time since I had met him three years earlier, Marcus looked as though he couldn't predict what I would do next.
I turned to Lorraine.
"You told me Dad died the night of the accident.""
"He did.""
"Then why did you recognize his watch?""
"Because it belonged to him.""
"You told me it was buried with him.""
Lorraine swallowed.
"I was trying to protect you.""
The words struck me with the force of a slap.
"Protect me from what?""
She looked at Josiah.
He had retreated to the wall beneath a tall window, holding his empty hands against his chest. His oversized shoes squeaked slightly as he shifted his weight.
Lorraine's eyes filled with tears.
"Who sent you here?"" she asked him.
Josiah hesitated.
"My mom.""
"What is her name?""
He shook his head.
"She said I could only tell Ava.""
Lorraine's fingers curled around the fabric of her dress.
"That woman has no right to—"
She stopped.
I stared at her.
"What woman?""
Lorraine looked away.
I took another step forward.
"You know his mother.""
"No.""
"You just said she had no right to send him here.""
"I meant—"
"You meant exactly what you said.""
Marcus moved closer to Lorraine.
"Aunt Lorraine, perhaps we should all calm down.""
She turned on him.
"Stay out of this, Marcus.""
The sharpness of her voice silenced him.
I looked between them.
They were both afraid.
That was the part I couldn't understand. Marcus was a successful attorney who negotiated million-dollar contracts without raising his voice. Lorraine had spent decades managing every crisis our family had ever faced.
Yet neither could look directly at the watch.
I raised it between us.
"Tell me about the night Dad disappeared.""
Lorraine's mouth trembled.
"There was an accident.""
"Where?""
"Near the old county hospital.""
"What hospital?""
She said nothing.
I looked down at the key.
The faded tag pressed against my palm.
"Is this from that hospital?""
Lorraine reached for me again.
"Give it to me, Ava.""
"No.""
"Please.""
"Why are you begging me?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Because if you open what that key belongs to, you may lose everything you think you know about your family.""
I felt the floor tilt beneath my feet.
Behind me, Josiah whispered, "My mom said you'd say that.""
I turned toward him.
"What else did your mom say?""
He looked at Lorraine, then at Marcus.
His lower lip trembled, but he forced himself to speak.
"She said the man who wants you to get married might know why your dad never came home.""
Every face in the foyer seemed to turn toward Marcus.
He went completely still.
"That's enough," he said.
The command was quiet, but there was something unfamiliar beneath it. Something cold.
He reached for Josiah's shoulder.
I caught his wrist before he could touch the boy.
"Don't.""
Marcus looked at my hand around his arm.
Then he looked at me.
"Ava, you have no idea what you're doing.""
"Then tell me.""
He said nothing.
Lorraine began crying openly now, pressing a trembling hand against her mouth.
I turned back to Josiah.
"Where is your mother?""
He glanced toward the tall windows, where sunlight illuminated every frightened line on his face.
"She told me not to bring her here.""
"Why?""
He swallowed.
"Because she said if Aunt Lorraine saw her, she would know the truth.""
Lorraine made a small, broken sound.
I tightened my grip on the watch and key.
"Josiah, look at me. What truth?""
The boy lifted his eyes to mine.
Then he reached into the pocket of his oversized shirt and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
It was old, creased, and sealed inside a clear plastic sleeve.
He held it out with both hands.
"My mom said you should read this before you decide whether to get married.""
I unfolded the paper.
At the top was the name of a hospital.
Beneath it was a date I recognized immediately.
The date my father supposedly died.
May you like
And at the bottom, beside a faded signature, were three words that made my aunt collapse into the nearest chair.
*PATIENT TRANSFERRED ALIVE.*
