Chapter 5: The Letter
Nia couldn't move.
The attorney held the letter in both hands.
Marcus stared over her shoulder.
Vanessa whispered, “Give me that.””
The attorney stepped back.
“No.””
“I said give it to me.””
“No.””
Vanessa's voice sharpened.
“You don't understand what you're doing.””
“I understand exactly what I'm doing.””
Angela moved closer to Nia.
“Let her read it.””
Vanessa looked at Angela.
“You think this makes you innocent?””
“No.””
Angela's voice was steady.
“I think the truth makes you accountable.””
Nia stared at the letter.
“Can I see it?””
The attorney walked toward her.
“Yes.””
Nia took the paper.
It was old.
The edges had yellowed. The ink was faded in places.
But the handwriting was unmistakably real.
She recognized it from the few birthday cards Angela had managed to send over the years.
Nia began reading.
Her eyes stopped at the first paragraph.
My baby girl,
Her throat tightened.
She kept going.
If you ever read this, I need you to know that I never abandoned you.
A tear dropped onto the page.
Angela covered her mouth.
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“You told us she abandoned her.””
Vanessa didn't answer.
Nia read faster.
They told me I had to sign papers before I could leave the hospital. They said you needed immediate protection. They said I would have another chance.
Nia looked up.
“Mom?””
Angela nodded through tears.
“I didn't know what I was signing.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You were sick.””
“I was exhausted,” Angela said.
“I had just given birth.””
“You weren't capable of raising a child.””
“You made sure I believed that.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Mom, stop.””
Vanessa turned on him.
“You weren't there.””
“I was six.””
“You don't remember what it was like.””
Marcus's voice lowered.
“Then tell me.””
Vanessa stared at him.
“Tell me what happened.””
She said nothing.
Nia looked back at the letter.
Another line caught her eye.
They told me the woman taking you would only keep you temporarily.
Her hands began trembling.
“Keep reading,” Angela whispered.
Nia did.
I was told her name was Vanessa Carter.
Nia looked up.
Vanessa's face had gone rigid.
The attorney spoke quietly.
“There's more.””
Nia continued.
But there's something else you must know.
She stopped.
A long pause.
“What?””
The attorney leaned closer.
“Read the next line.””
Nia looked down.
Your father knew.
Her eyes widened.
“Dad?””
Angela closed her eyes.
Marcus whispered, “I thought Dad died before you were born.””
Angela shook her head.
“He didn't.””
Marcus stared at her.
“What?””
Vanessa suddenly grabbed the letter.
Nia jerked backward.
“Give it back!””
Vanessa tore the paper from her hands.
The attorney reached for it.
Vanessa crumpled the letter.
“You don't need to know this.””
Nia stared at her.
“Yes, I do.””
Vanessa backed toward the curtains.
“No.””
“You lied about my mother.””
“I raised you.””
“You lied about my father.””
“I protected you!””
“From what?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“From him.””
The room went silent.
Angela's face changed.
“You never told her.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“Who?””
Vanessa's lips trembled.
“Your father.””
Marcus shook his head.
“My father?””
“He wasn't safe.””
Angela stepped forward.
“You're still lying.””
Vanessa screamed.
“You weren't there!””
The shout echoed through the backstage area.
Vanessa pointed at Angela.
“You don't get to walk back in here after eighteen years and pretend you know what happened!””
Angela's eyes narrowed.
“I know enough to know you forged my signature.””
Vanessa stopped.
Marcus looked at her.
“You forged it?””
Vanessa looked away.
The attorney quietly opened her briefcase again.
“I have the original hospital authorization.””
Vanessa's head snapped toward her.
“No.””
“And the handwriting analysis.””
“No.””
“And the court transcript.””
Vanessa's breathing became frantic.
Marcus whispered, “Mom…”
The attorney removed three sealed documents.
“There's one reason these records were never presented.””
Nia looked at her.
“What reason?””
The attorney looked at Vanessa.
“Because someone destroyed the original custody file.””
Marcus stared.
“Who?””
The attorney didn't answer.
She turned one document around.
A signature appeared at the bottom.
Marcus recognized it.
His face went pale.
“That’s Dad's signature.””
Angela looked at the paper.
Then at Marcus.
“No.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“What does it say?””
The attorney hesitated.
“It's an affidavit.””
“About what?””
She slid the document toward him.
Marcus read the first sentence.
His eyes widened.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
“You told him I was dead.””
Nia froze.
Angela whispered, “What?””
Marcus lifted his eyes.
“The affidavit says my father was told Nia died after birth.””
Vanessa began crying.
And then someone knocked violently on the backstage door.
A man's voice came from the hallway.
“Open the door, Vanessa.””
Marcus stared at the handle.
May you like
His face had gone completely white.
“I know that voice.””
