Chapter 5: My Mother Had Been Keeping Two Secrets
At eight the following morning, I stood outside my mother's house with Lily beside me.
I had barely slept.
The anonymous message had been burning through my thoughts all night.
Ask her what happened the night Daniel died.
I had spent four years believing Daniel's death was a terrible accident.
He had been driving home from a business meeting when another vehicle crossed the center line. The police report had described the collision as unavoidable.
My mother had attended the funeral.
She had held me while I cried.
She had promised that she would help me raise Lily.
And now I was beginning to wonder what she had been hiding.
"Mom, are we going inside?""
Lily's small voice brought me back.
I squeezed her hand.
"Yes, sweetheart.""
My mother opened the door before I could knock.
She was wearing a cream cardigan and her usual pearl earrings.
Her eyes moved immediately to Lily.
"I thought I asked you to come alone.""
"She's my daughter. She stays with me.""
My mother pressed her lips together.
"Fine. Come in.""
The living room smelled of cinnamon and furniture polish.
Everything was exactly where it had been during my childhood. The family photographs. The embroidered cushions. The grandfather clock Daniel had repaired shortly before his death.
I couldn't look at it without feeling sick.
My mother pointed toward the sofa.
"Sit down.""
I remained standing.
"Tell me about the bank.""
She looked toward Lily.
"Can she go play in the garden?""
"No.""
"Claire—"
"Mom, I'm not leaving my daughter alone with someone who may have helped steal her father's money.""
My mother's face hardened.
"That's an outrageous thing to say.""
"Then explain the signature.""
She went quiet.
I took the photograph from my bag and placed it on the coffee table.
My mother stared at it.
Then she slowly sat down.
"Vanessa told me you found that.""
"She didn't. Lily did.""
My mother looked at my daughter.
For a moment, something like fear crossed her face.
"That child shouldn't have been going through private documents.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Stop blaming Lily.""
My mother rubbed her forehead.
"Fine. You want the truth? I helped Vanessa transfer the money.""
The room seemed to shrink.
I gripped the back of a chair.
"How much?""
"Forty-eight thousand.""
"Why?""
"She said she needed it temporarily.""
"From Daniel's estate?""
My mother nodded.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"That money was supposed to pay for Lily's education.""
"I know.""
"You knew?""
"Yes!""
Her voice cracked.
"Vanessa was in trouble. She owed money to several people. She said she would repay everything once her business became successful.""
I stared at her.
"And you thought stealing from your dead son-in-law was a reasonable solution?""
My mother flinched.
"Don't speak to me like that.""
"How should I speak to you?""
Lily was sitting silently beside me, clutching her little stuffed rabbit.
My mother looked away.
"I never wanted you to suffer.""
"Then why did you let me believe the money was still there?""
"I thought Vanessa would return it.""
"She didn't.""
"No.""
"She spent it.""
My mother began crying.
I felt no satisfaction watching her.
Only exhaustion.
"Why was your signature on the transfer?""
"Vanessa said the bank required a family witness. She told me you had already approved everything.""
"I hadn't.""
"I know that now.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Now?""
My mother reached for my hand.
I pulled it away.
"There's something else," she whispered.
I looked at her.
"What?""
She glanced toward the hallway.
"Daniel came to see me three days before he died.""
My heart stopped.
"What?""
"He was worried about Vanessa.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"Why?""
My mother swallowed.
"He had discovered that she was using your financial information without your permission. He confronted her.""
I sat down slowly.
"Daniel knew?""
"He said he had found irregularities in your accounts. He wanted to report them, but he was trying to give Vanessa a chance to explain.""
I stared at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because he asked me not to involve you until he had proof.""
"What proof?""
My mother looked toward a cabinet near the fireplace.
"He gave me something.""
I followed her gaze.
"What?""
"A small storage device. He said it contained copies of the original financial documents and several recordings.""
My heartbeat quickened.
"Where is it?""
She hesitated.
"Vanessa took it.""
"When?""
"The day after Daniel's funeral.""
I stood abruptly.
"You let her take evidence that could have protected me?""
My mother began sobbing.
"She said she needed it to clear her name. She promised she would return it.""
I looked at her in disbelief.
"You believed her again?""
My mother covered her face.
Lily quietly slipped off the sofa.
She walked toward the cabinet.
"Mom?""
I turned.
"What is it, sweetheart?""
She pointed at the bottom drawer.
"Is that where Daddy's things were?""
My mother stiffened.
"Don't touch that.""
Lily looked at her.
"But I saw something.""
I approached the cabinet.
My mother stood quickly.
"Claire, please. There's nothing in there.""
I opened the drawer.
Inside were old photographs, envelopes, a broken watch, and several folders.
At the bottom lay a small leather pouch.
I recognized it immediately.
It had belonged to Daniel.
My hands trembled as I opened it.
There was no storage device.
But there was a folded note.
Daniel's handwriting.
Claire, if you're reading this, something has gone wrong. Don't trust Vanessa with anything that belongs to you. And whatever happens, don't let anyone convince you that the accident was your fault.
I read the final sentence twice.
Then a third time.
My mother began crying harder.
"What does that mean?""
I looked at her.
"What accident?""
She didn't answer.
I stepped toward her.
"Mom, what did Daniel tell you?""
She covered her mouth.
"Claire, I swear I didn't know what was going to happen.""
My chest tightened.
"Tell me.""
She looked at Lily.
Then she whispered:
"Daniel called me the night he died.""
I stopped breathing.
"What?""
"He said someone was following him.""
My legs felt weak.
"He told you that?""
She nodded.
"He asked me to call you and tell you not to let Vanessa come near the house.""
I stared at her.
"Did you call me?""
My mother shook her head.
"Why?""
She began crying uncontrollably.
"Because Vanessa was standing right beside me.""
The silence that followed was unbearable.
I looked at the woman who had raised me.
Then I asked the question I was terrified to hear answered.
"Did you know where Vanessa was that night?""
My mother slowly nodded.
"Yes.""
"Where?""
May you like
She looked directly into my eyes.
"She was in the same car as Daniel.""
