Chapter 7: The Woman in the Photograph
Maya stared at the photograph.
Her fingers curled around Marcus's hand.
The older woman at the end of the hallway took one slow step forward.
Vanessa backed away.
“No,” she whispered.
Marcus looked at her.
“You know her.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't.””
The older woman gave a bitter laugh.
“You always did lie quickly.””
Marcus looked between them.
“Who are you?””
The woman stopped several feet away.
“My name is Evelyn.””
Maya's breath caught.
Marcus felt his daughter's hand tighten around his.
Evelyn looked at Maya.
Then at the photograph.
“I've waited ten years to meet you.””
Maya stared at her.
“Are you my mom?””
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“No.””
Maya's face fell.
“But I knew your mother.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“Then where is she?””
Evelyn looked at Vanessa.
“She knows.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“Don't do this.””
“You've had ten years,” Evelyn said.
“Let him hear it now.””
Marcus's voice was low.
“Where is Maya's mother?””
Evelyn held out the photograph.
“Her name is Alana.””
Maya looked at the picture.
A young Black woman smiled into the camera.
She had Maya's eyes.
The same slight tilt at the corners.
The same dimple on the left cheek.
Maya stared.
“That’s me.””
Marcus swallowed.
“No, sweetheart.””
Maya touched the photograph.
“She looks like me.””
Evelyn nodded.
“She is your mother.””
Vanessa's voice trembled.
“Marcus, please.””
He turned.
“Don't say another word.””
Vanessa stopped.
Marcus looked at Evelyn.
“You said Alana survived.””
“She did.””
“Where is she?””
Evelyn's expression changed.
“She died two years ago.””
Maya made a tiny sound.
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Died?””
Evelyn nodded.
“She survived the accident. She lived for eight years afterward.””
“Then why didn't I know?””
“Because Vanessa made sure you didn't.””
Marcus turned toward his wife.
Vanessa was crying silently.
Evelyn continued.
“Alana woke up in the hospital after the accident with a severe memory loss. She remembered Maya. She remembered you. But she couldn't remember where she lived.””
Marcus frowned.
“Why didn't the hospital contact me?””
“They tried.””
Evelyn looked directly at Vanessa.
“Someone intercepted the calls.””
Marcus's face hardened.
“Who?””
Evelyn didn't answer.
He already knew.
Vanessa whispered, “I was afraid.””
Marcus stepped toward her.
“You stopped my daughter's mother from finding us?””
“I thought Alana would take Maya.””
“She was her mother!””
“I was raising her!””
“You were hiding her!””
Maya flinched at the shouting.
Marcus immediately lowered his voice.
“I'm sorry.””
He turned toward Maya.
“I’m sorry you had to hear this.””
Maya looked at Vanessa.
“Why didn't you let my mom see me?””
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
“Because I loved your father.””
Maya frowned.
“That doesn't answer me.””
Vanessa couldn't speak.
Evelyn stepped closer.
“She was afraid Alana would expose her.””
Marcus looked at Evelyn.
“Expose her for what?””
Evelyn hesitated.
Then she pulled another folded document from her coat.
“This.””
Marcus took it.
He unfolded the page.
His eyes moved across the words.
Then he stopped.
It was an insurance beneficiary change.
His name was at the top.
Maya's name was listed beneath it.
But beside it was a handwritten authorization.
Marcus looked up.
“This signature…”
Evelyn nodded.
“Wasn't yours.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
She began shaking her head.
“No.””
“Did you forge my signature?””
“No.””
“Vanessa.””
“I didn't take the money.””
“Did you forge it?””
Vanessa's silence answered.
Maya looked between them.
“How much money?””
Marcus didn't respond.
Evelyn did.
“Enough to change your life.””
Maya stared at the document.
“How much?””
Evelyn swallowed.
“Two hundred and eighty thousand dollars.””
Marcus's face went blank.
Maya looked down at her worn sneakers.
Thirty-four dollars.
Two hundred and eighty thousand dollars.
She didn't understand the number.
But she understood the unfairness.
“That's mine?””
Evelyn nodded.
“Your mother left it for you.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“You knew.””
“I knew about the policy.””
“You knew the money belonged to Maya.””
“I never spent it.””
“Then where is it?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
Marcus stepped closer.
“Where is it?””
She whispered, “The account.””
“What account?””
“The second account.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“The one Derrick warned me about.””
Vanessa nodded.
Maya's voice was tiny.
“Did she take my money?””
Vanessa looked at her.
“No.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Then what did you do?””
Vanessa began crying.
“I borrowed it.””
“For what?””
“My business.””
Marcus looked stunned.
“You used her inheritance?””
“I was going to put it back.””
“When?””
“I don't know.””
“How much is left?””
Vanessa said nothing.
Evelyn spoke quietly.
“Not much.””
Marcus turned.
“How do you know?””
“Because Derrick helped her move it.””
Marcus's head snapped toward the phone.
“Derrick?””
Evelyn nodded.
“He was her accountant.””
Marcus stared at Vanessa.
“And you told me he was nobody.””
Vanessa's shoulders collapsed.
Maya suddenly pulled at Marcus's sleeve.
“Dad.””
He looked down.
“What?””
“Why did she make me earn everything if I had that much money?””
Marcus didn't have an answer.
Evelyn did.
“Because she wanted you to believe you were worth less than you were.””
Maya's eyes filled with tears.
Marcus pulled her into his arms.
“You never had to earn being loved.””
Maya buried her face against his shirt.
Vanessa watched them.
Then she whispered something Marcus almost didn't hear.
“There is one thing you don't know.””
He looked at her.
“What?””
Vanessa's eyes moved toward Evelyn.
“She didn't die from the accident.””
Marcus froze.
Evelyn's expression changed.
“Vanessa.””
“What did you just say?”” Marcus asked.
Vanessa swallowed.
“Alana was alive when I found her.””
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Don't.””
Marcus looked at her.
“What is she talking about?””
Evelyn's eyes filled with fear.
May you like
Vanessa whispered:
“I know what really happened to Alana.””
