Chapter 3: The Name
Alicia stared at the name.
Marcus Cole.
Her husband's name.
Written in her grandmother's handwriting.
Twenty years before Alicia had ever married him.
Marcus took a step backward.
“No.””
Alicia didn't move.
“You know this handwriting.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No, I don't.””
“You've seen my grandmother’s letters.””
“That's not what I mean.””
“Then what do you mean?””
Marcus looked toward Vanessa.
Vanessa was crying now.
Silent tears rolled down her cheeks.
Alicia followed his gaze.
“You knew.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I didn't know your husband was involved.””
Marcus snapped.
“Don't say that.””
Alicia's head turned sharply.
“Involved in what?””
Marcus said nothing.
Alicia picked up the old album.
“Involved in what, Marcus?””
“I don't know.””
“You're lying again.””
“I swear to you—”
“Don't swear.””
Alicia's voice cracked for the first time.
“You've already asked me to trust you.””
Marcus lowered his eyes.
She looked at the man she had married.
Then at the woman standing beside him.
Then at the emerald ring.
Everything in the room seemed connected.
The suitcase.
The will.
The wooden box.
The missing photograph.
The warning.
And now his name.
Alicia placed the album on the coffee table.
“Why would my grandmother write your name twenty years ago?””
Marcus rubbed his palms together.
“I can't explain it.””
“Try.””
“I don't remember.””
“You don't remember my grandmother?””
“I remember meeting her.””
Alicia froze.
Vanessa looked at him.
Marcus realized he had said too much.
“When?””
Alicia's voice was barely a whisper.
“When did you meet her?””
Marcus swallowed.
“Before I knew you.””
“That doesn't answer me.””
“I was a kid.””
“How old?””
Marcus looked toward the floor.
“Fourteen.””
Alicia stared.
“My grandmother met you when you were fourteen?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“I don't know.””
“You don't know?””
“I was young.””
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
“You weren't supposed to tell her that.””
Alicia turned.
“What?””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Marcus stared at her.
“Vanessa…”
Alicia stepped toward Vanessa.
“You knew.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I knew he had met her.””
“When?””
“Years ago.””
“How many?””
Vanessa looked at the emerald.
“Twenty.””
Alicia's breathing stopped.
Twenty years.
The exact age written on the will.
The exact age of the warning.
The exact age of the missing photograph.
Alicia slowly reached for the emerald ring.
Vanessa pulled her hand away.
“Don't touch it.””
“Why?””
“Because you don't know what it means.””
“Then tell me.””
“I can't.””
“You can.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You really don't understand.””
Alicia's voice became cold.
“Then help me understand.””
Vanessa looked at Marcus.
“Tell her.””
Marcus whispered, “I can't.””
“Why not?””
“Because she won't believe me.””
Alicia looked between them.
“You're both acting like I'm the last person who deserves the truth.””
Nobody answered.
Alicia picked up the wooden box.
She examined the brass key.
There was a tiny engraving on its surface.
A single letter.
*V.*
She looked at Vanessa.
“Is this yours?””
Vanessa's face drained of color.
“No.””
“Then why is your initial on it?””
“It isn't my initial.””
“Your name is Vanessa.””
“My last name wasn't always Cole.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
Alicia noticed.
“Marcus.””
He didn't respond.
“Look at me.””
Slowly, he did.
“Her last name wasn't always Cole?””
Marcus said nothing.
Alicia's fingers tightened around the key.
“What was it?””
Vanessa whispered, “Alicia, please.””
“What was her last name?””
Marcus finally answered.
“I don't know.””
Vanessa looked at him with disbelief.
“You promised.””
Marcus turned toward her.
“I was fourteen.””
“And you remembered.””
“I remembered enough.””
Alicia stepped back.
“Enough for what?””
Marcus's face crumpled.
He looked exhausted.
Ashamed.
Terrified.
But before he could speak, Vanessa reached into the pocket of her blouse.
She pulled out a small folded piece of paper.
Alicia stared.
“What is that?””
Vanessa held it tightly.
“My grandmother gave me this.””
Alicia's eyes widened.
“Your grandmother?””
Vanessa nodded.
“She told me never to show anyone.””
“Then why are you showing me now?””
Vanessa looked at the will.
“Because I think she was wrong.””
Alicia held out her hand.
“Give it to me.””
Vanessa hesitated.
Then slowly placed the paper in Alicia's palm.
Alicia unfolded it.
Three handwritten lines.
The ink was old.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
Her grandmother’s.
Alicia read the first line.
Her face changed.
She read the second.
Marcus whispered, “Oh God.””
Alicia looked at the third line.
And this time, her hands began to shake.
May you like
Because beneath the warning about Vanessa was a sentence addressed directly to Alicia.
*IF MARCUS EVER COMES INTO YOUR LIFE, DO NOT—*
