Chapter 11: The Woman Who Raised My Sister
Eleanor Whitmore arrived the following afternoon.
She was in her early sixties, with silver hair cut neatly above her shoulders and a long camel-colored coat. She carried a leather handbag and wore no jewelry except a simple wedding ring.
She looked nothing like Margaret.
But when she entered the library, she stopped in front of my grandfather's portrait.
For several seconds, she simply stared at it.
"Edward," she: The Woman Who Raised My Sister
Eleanor Whitmore arrived the following afternoon.
She was in her early sixties, with silver hair cut neatly above her shoulders and a long camel-colored coat. She carried a leather handbag and wore no jewelry except a simple wedding ring.
She looked nothing like Margaret.
But when she entered the library, she stopped in front of my grandfather's portrait.
For several seconds, she simply stared at it.
"Edward," she whispered.
I watched her carefully.
"You knew my grandfather?""
She turned.
"Yes. For a very long time.""
"Did you know my mother?""
Her eyes filled.
"Yes, Maya.""
"Did you know Lily?""
She nodded.
I gripped the back of the chair.
"Where is she?""
Eleanor looked at Mr. Bennett.
"May we speak privately?""
"No," I answered.
"I've had enough private conversations about my family.""
whispered.
I watched her carefully.
"You knew my grandfather?""
She turned.
"Yes. For a very long time.""
"Did you know my mother?""
Her eyes filled.
"Yes, Maya.""
"Did you know Lily?""
She nodded.
I gripped the back of the chair.
"Where is she?""
Eleanor looked at Mr. Bennett.
"May we speak privately?""
"No," I answered.
"I've had enough private conversations about my family.""
She accepted that without argument.
"Then I'll tell you everything.""
She sat down and opened her handbag.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed a little girl sitting on a swing, laughing.
She had the same eyes as me.
"That's Lily," Eleanor said.
I picked up the photograph.
"How old is she here?""
"Six.""
"Where is she now?""
"She's twenty-three. She lives in Seattle.""
My heart began pounding.
"She'sShe accepted that without argument.
"Then I'll tell you everything.""
She sat down and opened her handbag.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed a little girl sitting on a swing, laughing.
She had the same eyes as me.
"That's Lily," Eleanor said.
I picked up the photograph.
"How old is she here?""
"Six.""
"Where is she now?""
"She's twenty-three. She lives in Seattle.""
My heart began pounding.
"She's alive?""
"Yes.""
"Does she know about me?""
Eleanor lowered her eyes.
"No.""
I put the photograph down.
"Why?""
"Because your grandfather believed that revealing her identity would expose her to danger. He asked me to raise her as my own daughter.""
I stared at her.
"Did you?""
"Yes. I loved her as alive?""
"Yes.""
"Does she know about me?""
Eleanor lowered her eyes.
"No.""
I put the photograph down.
"Why?""
"Because your grandfather believed that revealing her identity would expose her to danger. He asked me to raise her as my own daughter.""
I stared at her.
"Did you?""
"Yes. I loved her as if I had given birth to her.""
"Then why are you here?""
Eleanor took a breath.
"Because Lily recently discovered the adoption papers.""
I felt my fingers go cold.
"What happened?""
"She found a box of documents in her father's study after his funeral. Among them was a copy of the original hospital record. She asked me questions I couldn't answer.""
"Did you tell her about me?""
"Not immediately if I had given birth to her.""
"Then why are you here?""
Eleanor took a breath.
"Because Lily recently discovered the adoption papers.""
I felt my fingers go cold.
"What happened?""
"She found a box of documents in her father's study after his funeral. Among them was a copy of the original hospital record. She asked me questions I couldn't answer.""
"Did you tell her about me?""
"Not immediately.""
"Why not?""
"Because I was afraid she would hate me for keeping the truth from her.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Everyone seems to be afraid of telling the truth.""
Eleanor nodded.
"You're right.""
She removed another envelope.
"This is a letter your mother wrote to Lily.""
I froze.
"My mother wrote her a letter?""
"She wrote it shortly after the adoption. Your grandfather asked.""
"Why not?""
"Because I was afraid she would hate me for keeping the truth from her.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Everyone seems to be afraid of telling the truth.""
Eleanor nodded.
"You're right.""
She removed another envelope.
"This is a letter your mother wrote to Lily.""
I froze.
"My mother wrote her a letter?""
"She wrote it shortly after the adoption. Your grandfather asked me to keep it until Lily was old enough to understand.""
"Why didn't you give it to her?""
"Because your grandfather later asked me not to. He believed the people responsible for Evelyn's death were still watching the family.""
I took the envelope.
My mother's handwriting covered me to keep it until Lily was old enough to understand.""
"Why didn't you give it to her?""
"Because your grandfather later asked me not to. He believed the people responsible for Evelyn's death were still watching the family.""
I took the envelope.
My mother's handwriting covered the front.
For my little Lily.
I opened it.
My darling girl,
I don't know whether you'll ever read these words. I don't know whether I'll be allowed to hold you again.
But I want you to know that you were wanted.
You and your sister were the greatest gifts of my life.
I kissed your forehead before they carried you away, and I promised myself I would find a way to bring you home.
Please don't believe that I gave the front.
For my little Lily.
I opened it.
My darling girl,
I don't know whether you'll ever read these words. I don't know whether I'll be allowed to hold you again.
But I want you to know that you were wanted.
You and your sister were the greatest gifts of my life.
I kissed your forehead before they carried you away, and I promised myself I would find a way to bring you home.
Please don't believe that I gave you up because I didn't love you.
I did it because I was afraid someone would hurt you to get to me.
I pressed the letter against my chest.
The tears came before I could stop them.
Eleanor reached for my hand.
I pulled away.
"Does Lily know Mom died?""
"Yes.""
"Does she know she has a sister?""
"No.""
"Then I want to meet her.""
Eleanor nodded.
"I thought you might.""
She took out her phone.
"She's you up because I didn't love you.
I did it because I was afraid someone would hurt you to get to me.
I pressed the letter against my chest.
The tears came before I could stop them.
Eleanor reached for my hand.
I pulled away.
"Does Lily know Mom died?""
"Yes.""
"Does she know she has a sister?""
"No.""
"Then I want to meet her.""
Eleanor nodded.
"I thought you might.""
She took out her phone.
"She's been waiting for my call.""
I stared at the device.
"She's here?""
"No. She's in Seattle. But she agreed to speak with you.""
Eleanor dialed.
The phone rang twice.
Then a young woman's voice answered.
"Mom?""
Eleanor looked at me.
"Sweetheart, there's someone I want you to meet.""
A pause.
"Who?""
Eleanor handed me the phone.
I held it against my ear.
"Hello?""
"Hi.""
The voice was soft and been waiting for my call.""
I stared at the device.
"She's here?""
"No. She's in Seattle. But she agreed to speak with you.""
Eleanor dialed.
The phone rang twice.
Then a young woman's voice answered.
"Mom?""
Eleanor looked at me.
"Sweetheart, there's someone I want you to meet.""
A pause.
"Who?""
Eleanor handed me the phone.
I held it against my ear.
"Hello?""
"Hi.""
The voice was soft and cautious.
"I'm Maya.""
Another pause.
Then the girl spoke.
"I know.""
I swallowed.
"You do?""
"Mom showed me your photograph.""
I looked at Eleanor.
"Have you always known?""
"No. I found out three weeks ago.""
My throat tightened.
"I'm sorry.""
"Why are you sorry?""
"Because I don't know what to say.""
A small laugh came through the phone.
"Neither do I.""
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she asked cautious.
"I'm Maya.""
Another pause.
Then the girl spoke.
"I know.""
I swallowed.
"You do?""
"Mom showed me your photograph.""
I looked at Eleanor.
"Have you always known?""
"No. I found out three weeks ago.""
My throat tightened.
"I'm sorry.""
"Why are you sorry?""
"Because I don't know what to say.""
A small laugh came through the phone.
"Neither do I.""
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she asked the question I had been too afraid to ask.
"Do you have Mom's eyes?""
I looked at the portrait above the fireplace.
"Yes.""
"Me too.""
I began crying.
She did too.
We talked for twenty minutes.
She told me she worked as a graphic designer and loved old movies. She had a small apartment overlooking a park. She hated peppermint tea.
I laughed.
"Grandpa would have been devastated.""
"Grandpa the question I had been too afraid to ask.
"Do you have Mom's eyes?""
I looked at the portrait above the fireplace.
"Yes.""
"Me too.""
I began crying.
She did too.
We talked for twenty minutes.
She told me she worked as a graphic designer and loved old movies. She had a small apartment overlooking a park. She hated peppermint tea.
I laughed.
"Grandpa would have been devastated.""
"Grandpa?""
"Edward. Our grandfather.""
She became quiet.
"Mom used to talk about him.""
I smiled through my tears.
"He was wonderful.""
"Was he?""
The question caught me off guard.
I told her about the letters, the safe, the financial records, and the investigation.
?""
"Edward. Our grandfather.""
She became quiet.
"Mom used to talk about him.""
I smiled through my tears.
"He was wonderful.""
"Was he?""
The question caught me off guard.
I told her about the letters, the safe, the financial records, and the investigation.
I didn't hide anything.
When I finished, she was silent for a long time.
Then she said, "Maya, I think there's something you need to know.""
"What?""
"Someone contacted me yesterday.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who?""
"A woman named Margaret Hayes.""
I stood.
"What did she say?""
"She told me that our mother had stolen money from the family and that Grandpa had arrangedI didn't hide anything.
When I finished, she was silent for a long time.
Then she said, "Maya, I think there's something you need to know.""
"What?""
"Someone contacted me yesterday.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who?""
"A woman named Margaret Hayes.""
I stood.
"What did she say?""
"She told me that our mother had stolen money from the family and that Grandpa had arranged my adoption to hide the truth.""
"She's lying.""
"Maybe. But she sent me a document.""
"What document?""
Lily took a breath.
"An original copy of the birth records.""
I frowned.
"Eleanor has those.""
"Not these. These have a different hospital name.""
My heart began pounding.
"What hospital?""
"St. Mary's Medical Center.""
"That's where Mom gave birth?""
"I don't know. But there's something my adoption to hide the truth.""
"She's lying.""
"Maybe. But she sent me a document.""
"What document?""
Lily took a breath.
"An original copy of the birth records.""
I frowned.
"Eleanor has those.""
"Not these. These have a different hospital name.""
My heart began pounding.
"What hospital?""
"St. Mary's Medical Center.""
"That's where Mom gave birth?""
"I don't know. But there's something else.""
Her voice dropped.
"The document says there were three babies.""
I stopped breathing.
"Three?""
"Yes.""
I looked at Eleanor.
She had gone completely still.
Lily continued.
"There's another child, Maya.""
I felt the floor shift beneath me.
"Who?""
"I don't know. But Margaret said she knows where he is.""
I looked at Eleanor.
"Is it true?""
She closed her else.""
Her voice dropped.
"The document says there were three babies.""
I stopped breathing.
"Three?""
"Yes.""
I looked at Eleanor.
She had gone completely still.
Lily continued.
"There's another child, Maya.""
I felt the floor shift beneath me.
"Who?""
"I don't know. But Margaret said she knows where he is.""
I looked at Eleanor.
"Is it true?""
She closed her eyes.
May you like
And then she whispered something that made me understand why my grandfather had spent sixteen years hiding the past.
"Yes. Your mother had triplets.""
