Chapter 4: The Name in the Envelope
Rochelle looked at the people surrounding her and seemed to realize, all at once, that there was nowhere left to hide.
Kiara still held the DNA report.
Her graduation cap had slipped slightly to one side. Tears streaked her cheeks, but she no longer wiped them away.
“Who is my father?”” she asked.
Rochelle's lips parted.
Nothing.
Kiara stepped closer.
“Mom, who is my father?””
Darnell put the bouquet down on a nearby table.
“Answer her.””
Rochelle looked at him.
“You don't understand what happened.””
“Then explain it.””
“I was scared.””
“You've had twenty-two years to stop being scared.””
Rochelle flinched.
Andre folded his arms.
“I told you this would happen.””
Rochelle turned toward him.
“You promised me you wouldn't come here.””
“And you promised Kiara you'd tell her the truth.””
“I told her enough.””
“No,” Andre said.
“You told her what you thought she could survive.””
Kiara's eyes moved between them.
“Both of you keep talking like I'm not standing here.””
That stopped them.
She held up the report.
“I want one answer. One name.””
Rochelle looked down.
Then she whispered, “His name was Marcus.””
Kiara frowned.
“Was?””
Rochelle nodded.
“Marcus Reed.””
Darnell's face changed.
It was subtle.
But Kiara saw it.
“You know him.””
Darnell stared at Rochelle.
“Marcus?””
Rochelle didn't respond.
Kiara stepped toward Darnell.
“You know who that is.””
Darnell swallowed.
“I knew a Marcus.””
“Who?””
Darnell rubbed a hand across his jaw.
“Marcus Reed.””
Kiara's eyes widened.
“How?””
Darnell looked toward the ground.
“He was my closest friend.””
The air seemed to disappear from the celebration.
Kiara stared at him.
“My father's name was your best friend's name?””
Darnell shook his head slowly.
“I don't know if he's your father.””
“Mom just said he was.””
Rochelle immediately shook her head.
“I said his name was Marcus. I never said—”
“You said his name like you were afraid of it.””
Rochelle's eyes filled.
Kiara stepped closer.
“Is he alive?””
Silence.
That silence was answer enough.
“No,” Rochelle whispered.
Kiara closed her eyes.
“When did he die?””
“Twenty-three years ago.””
Her eyes opened.
“Before I was born?””
Rochelle nodded.
Darnell's voice was barely audible.
“Car accident.””
Kiara stared at him.
“You knew?””
“I knew Marcus died.””
“Did you know he had a child?””
Darnell didn't answer.
Kiara's voice rose.
“Did you know?””
“No.””
Rochelle suddenly said, “Darnell didn't know.””
Kiara spun toward her.
“Then who knew?””
Rochelle looked at Andre.
Andre looked away.
Kiara's breathing quickened.
“You both knew something.””
Andre finally spoke.
“I knew Marcus had been involved with your mother.””
“Was he my father?””
“I don't know.””
“Then why did you take the DNA test?””
Andre hesitated.
“Because your mother contacted me six months ago.””
Kiara looked at Rochelle.
“Why?””
Rochelle wiped beneath one eye.
“Because I found something.””
“What?””
“A photograph.””
Rochelle reached into the small purse hanging from her shoulder.
She pulled out an old photograph.
The edges were worn.
She handed it to Kiara.
Kiara looked down.
Three young people stood together in the picture.
Rochelle.
Darnell.
And a younger Marcus.
Kiara's eyes fixed on Marcus's face.
There was something familiar about him.
Not his eyes.
Not his smile.
Something else.
A small crease appeared between his eyebrows when he smiled.
Kiara touched the photograph.
“Where did you find this?””
“In an old box.””
“Whose box?””
Rochelle looked at Darnell.
Darnell stared back.
“Mine,” he said.
Kiara slowly turned.
“Why would my mother's photograph be in your box?””
Darnell's face drained of color.
“I don't know.””
Rochelle whispered, “Because I put it there.””
Kiara stared at her.
“Why?””
Rochelle's voice broke.
“Because I didn't want anyone to find it.””
A phone suddenly rang somewhere behind them.
Nobody moved.
It rang again.
Andre reached into his pocket.
His expression changed when he looked at the screen.
Kiara noticed.
“Who is calling?””
Andre didn't answer.
The phone rang a third time.
He finally accepted the call.
“Hello?””
A man's voice came through the speaker.
Andre's eyes widened.
Then he looked directly at Rochelle.
“I think she needs to hear this.””
He turned the phone toward Kiara.
May you like
The voice on the other end said four words.
“Marcus didn't die alone.””
