Chapter 10: The Woman Who Came Back From the Dead
“Margaret Hayes is alive?””
I repeated the question because my mind refused to accept it.
Claire nodded.
“She came to see Elena three years ago.””
“Where is she now?””
“I don't know.””
“You expect me to believe that a woman everyone thought was dead suddenly appeared, and nobody thought to tell me?””
Claire wiped her cheeks.
“Your mother told us Margaret had died. She said there had been an accident shortly after Elena was born. We believed her.””
“Then how did Elena find out?””
Claire looked at the brass key on the table.
“Margaret contacted her directly.””
Detective Morgan leaned forward.
“Do you have any proof this woman is alive?””
Claire nodded.
“She left a letter with Arthur Bennett. He gave me a copy before he died.””
She reached into her handbag and removed a folded document.
The paper was yellowed at the edges. The handwriting was unfamiliar, but the name at the bottom made my stomach tighten.
Margaret Hayes.
I began reading.
Elena,
I have spent most of my life regretting the day I left you.
I was young. Your father was married, and I was foolish enough to believe he would eventually choose me. When I became pregnant, he promised he would make everything right.
He never did.
Your grandmother offered to raise you. She told me you would have a safe home and that I would be allowed to see you.
But after I signed the papers, she disappeared with you.
I tried to find you.
I was told you had died.
I believed them for twenty years.
My hands began trembling.
I continued.
Three years ago, I discovered the truth. I found your address and came to see you. I expected you to hate me.
Instead, you invited me inside.
I stopped reading.
Elena had met her biological mother.
The woman who had supposedly died decades earlier.
And she had never told me.
“Why would she hide this?”” I whispered.
Claire answered.
“Because Margaret brought something with her.””
“What?””
“A photograph.””
She pointed to the document.
I turned it over.
A second photograph was attached to the back.
It showed my father standing beside Margaret.
They were young, smiling, and holding a newborn baby.
On the back, someone had written:
Daniel, before you were born.
I stared at the words.
My father had been alive when Margaret gave birth.
He had known about Elena.
He had known she existed.
And my mother had spent years making sure nobody discovered the truth.
Detective Morgan took the photograph carefully.
“Mr. Hayes, I'm going to need copies of everything.””
“Of course.””
He looked at Claire.
“Do you know where Margaret is?””
Claire shook her head.
“Elena mentioned a town near the coast. I think she was living in Brighton.””
Madeline suddenly spoke.
“I know that name.””
We all turned toward her.
“Margaret?””
“No. The town.””
She unlocked her phone.
“Two months ago, Elena gave me a telephone number. She said it belonged to someone who might help me understand my adoption.””
She searched her messages.
A number appeared.
Beneath it was a contact name.
*MARGARET — GRAN.*
I stared at the screen.
“Did you call her?””
Madeline shook her head.
“No. I was angry. I thought Elena was trying to complicate everything.””
She looked down.
“I never called.””
Her voice broke.
“I could have spoken to her before Mom died.””
Noah put an arm around her.
“You didn't know.””
Madeline nodded, but the tears kept coming.
I reached for the phone.
“Can we call her?””
Madeline hesitated.
Then she pressed the number.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
A woman's voice answered.
“Hello?””
Madeline froze.
“Hello?””
The woman sounded older, but her voice was steady.
“Who's calling?””
Madeline swallowed.
“My name is Madeline Cole.””
Silence.
Then the woman whispered:
“Madeline?””
Madeline's eyes filled.
“Yes.””
“Are you Elena's daughter?””
“Yes.””
A trembling breath came through the speaker.
“Oh, sweetheart.””
Madeline began crying.
“I think we need to talk.””
The woman was quiet for a moment.
Then she said:
“I've been waiting for this call.””
I leaned closer.
“This is Daniel Hayes. Elena's husband.””
Another silence.
Then Margaret's voice changed.
“Daniel?””
“Yes.””
“Is Elena with you?””
I couldn't answer immediately.
Madeline covered her mouth.
Finally, I said, “No. I'm afraid she passed away.””
The woman made a small sound.
Then I heard something fall.
“Was she ill?””
“There was an accident.””
“An accident?””
I looked at Detective Morgan.
“That's what we've been told.””
Margaret began breathing heavily.
“Daniel, listen to me. It wasn't an accident.””
My entire body went cold.
“What do you know?””
“Your wife called me that night.””
I gripped the phone.
“What did she say?””
“She told me someone had come to the house. She said she had finally found the original documents.””
“Which documents?””
“The adoption papers. And the records proving who your father really was.””
I stared at Claire.
Margaret continued.
“She said she was afraid. She told me she had made a terrible mistake by trusting your sister.””
“My sister?””
“Yes. Claire.””
Claire looked up sharply.
Margaret's voice trembled.
“Elena told me Claire had been working with someone to keep the documents hidden.””
“Who?””
Margaret hesitated.
Then she whispered:
“Your mother.””
I felt my knees weaken.
“My mother has been dead for nineteen years.””
“I know.””
“Then how could she have been involved?””
“Because she left instructions before she died. Instructions that someone has been following ever since.””
I looked at Detective Morgan.
He was writing quickly.
“Margaret, do you know who killed Elena?””
“I don't know who pushed her. But I know why someone wanted her silent.””
“Why?””
“Because Elena discovered that your mother had another child.””
My mouth went dry.
“Another child?””
“Yes.””
Margaret's voice became almost inaudible.
“Your father had a second daughter before he married your mother. But Elena wasn't the only child he had with me.””
I stared at the photograph.
“Who was the other daughter?””
Margaret took a shaky breath.
Then she answered.
“Claire.””
The call ended.
Nobody moved.
I slowly lowered the phone.
My sister had spent years hiding a secret about my father.
But now I knew something even worse.
Claire wasn't simply involved in the family scandal.
May you like
She was part of it.
And the woman who had raised her as a sister might have known the truth all along.
