Chapter 2: The Letter My Father Left Behind
I didn't open the envelope immediately.
My hands were shaking too badly.
Richard snatched it from Edward.
"Whatever this is, we're not discussing it in front of our guests.""
Edward's expression hardened.
"Give it back.""
Richard laughed.
"Do you know who you're talking to?""
"Yes. A man who just assaulted his wife in front of forty-seven witnesses.""
Vanessa quickly slipped her phone into her purse.
"Richard, maybe we should go inside.""
He turned toward her.
"Stay out of this.""
For the first time that afternoon, Vanessa looked uncomfortable.
I reached for the envelope.
"Give it to me, Richard.""
He held it above my head.
"Emily, don't be stupid. This man is probably trying to scam you.""
Edward took one step forward.
"That envelope contains a letter from Daniel Bennett, along with a copy of a notarized trust document. You can have your attorney verify every word.""
Richard's expression changed at the mention of a trust.
My mother noticed.
"Emily, don't listen to him," she said quickly.
"Your father was sick toward the end. He wasn't thinking clearly.""
I turned toward her.
"You knew Eleanor?""
Patricia looked away.
"That was a long time ago.""
"Who was she?""
"Nobody important.""
Edward's jaw tightened.
"She was my sister. And she was Daniel's legal wife.""
My mother raised her voice.
"She abandoned him!""
"That's a lie.""
"She ran away!""
"Another lie.""
Edward looked at me.
"Eleanor didn't disappear voluntarily. She was last seen leaving a hospital in Boston in 2006. She was carrying a baby girl.""
My heart stopped.
"A baby?""
He nodded.
"My niece.""
I looked down at Lily, who was holding my hand.
"Are you saying...""
Edward didn't finish the sentence.
He didn't need to.
I was the baby.
My mother began shaking her head.
"No. No, this is absurd.""
I finally tore open the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten letter, two legal documents, and a small photograph.
The photograph showed a young woman holding a newborn baby.
The woman had my eyes.
The baby wore a tiny silver bracelet.
I turned the photograph over.
My Emily,
If you're reading this, then someone finally found you.
I tried to bring you home. I tried harder than you'll ever know.
But someone I trusted made sure I couldn't.
I stopped reading.
My father had written those words.
I knew his handwriting.
I had kept his birthday cards for years.
I continued.
Your mother was Eleanor Hayes. She loved you before she ever held you. She spent months choosing your name.
If you have been told that Patricia is your biological mother, please understand that she took something from both of us.
My vision blurred.
"Mom?""
Patricia stepped toward me.
"Emily, listen to me.""
I held up the letter.
"Did you steal me from my mother?""
"Don't use that word!""
"Then tell me what happened.""
She looked around at the guests.
"Not here.""
Edward's voice was cold.
"Convenient. You've been avoiding this conversation for twenty years.""
Richard took the letter from my hand.
He skimmed the first page, then looked at Edward.
"What's in this trust?""
Edward didn't answer.
Richard read further.
His eyebrows lifted.
"What is the Hayes Family Trust?""
Edward finally looked at him.
"That isn't your concern.""
Richard laughed.
"Oh, I think it is. I'm married to her.""
"Marriage doesn't give you ownership of another person's inheritance.""
The word inheritance made my mother close her eyes.
I turned to Edward.
"What inheritance?""
He hesitated.
"Your biological mother came from a family that owned several commercial properties and investment companies. Before she disappeared, she established a trust for her child.""
"How much?""
"That's something the estate attorney will explain. But the trust has been protected for twenty years.""
Richard suddenly became very interested.
"Well, that's wonderful news. Emily and I can arrange a meeting with your attorney.""
Edward stared at him.
"Emily can arrange a meeting. You cannot.""
Richard's smile disappeared.
"Watch your mouth.""
I looked at my husband.
For years, he'd controlled our money, our schedules, and even the clothes I wore.
He had convinced me that I couldn't survive without him.
Now he was already trying to claim something he hadn't known existed ten minutes earlier.
"Richard, give me the letter.""
He folded it.
"You're upset. We'll discuss this at home.""
"Give it to me.""
His fingers tightened around the paper.
Then Lily tugged at my dress.
"Mommy?""
I looked down.
She was holding a little pink birthday card.
"I made this for you.""
Her tiny fingers opened it.
Inside was a drawing of three people holding hands.
Me.
Lily.
And Richard.
Underneath, in her uneven handwriting, were the words:
My happy family.
I felt something break inside me.
Richard looked at the card and laughed.
"See? Even Lily knows we're a family. Stop making this dramatic.""
I took the letter from his hand.
Then I turned toward Edward.
"I want to see the attorney.""
Edward nodded.
"Tomorrow morning. I'll arrange everything.""
My mother grabbed my wrist.
"Emily, you cannot leave with him.""
I pulled away.
"Why?""
She lowered her voice.
"Because you don't understand what you're getting yourself into.""
"Then explain it.""
She looked toward Richard.
He gave her a small shake of his head.
It was subtle.
But I saw it.
My husband and my mother were communicating without speaking.
And suddenly I understood that whatever had happened twenty years ago had never really ended.
Edward glanced at his watch.
"I should tell you something else before I leave.""
He took out his phone and showed me an old hospital photograph.
A woman lay in a bed, her face turned toward the camera.
It was the same woman from my father's photograph.
Underneath was a date.
October 14, 2006.
"That's Eleanor," Edward said.
"This photograph was taken two days before she vanished.""
I stared at the screen.
"Where was she?""
"St. Catherine's Hospital.""
My mother made a choking sound.
Edward turned toward her.
"Funny thing, Patricia. Your signature appears on the discharge paperwork.""
The entire backyard went silent.
I looked at my mother.
She was crying now.
Not the gentle tears she used whenever she wanted sympathy.
These were different.
She looked terrified.
And then she said something I would never forget.
"Emily, I didn't take you because I wanted your life.""
May you like
She swallowed.
"I took you because Eleanor was going to tell you who your real father was.""
