Chapter 5: The Mother Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
I read the words until they stopped looking like words.
Nia must meet her mother.
My mother.
Elena Carter.
The woman whose photograph stood on my bedroom dresser. The woman whose funeral I remembered only through fragments of black dresses, white flowers, and my father's hand holding mine.
She had died from complications following a surgical procedure.
That was the story I had grown up with.
My father had never remarried.
He never removed her photographs.
And every year on her birthday, he bought white roses.
"Grandpa?""
Arthur looked at me.
"Tell me the truth.""
He slowly sat down.
"Nia, your mother died twelve years ago.""
"Then why did Dad write this?""
He didn't answer.
I looked at Samuel.
"Can you explain?""
The elderly attorney removed his glasses.
"Your father contacted me about six months before the accident. He believed your mother might still be alive.""
My breath caught.
"How?""
"He received a letter.""
"From her?""
Samuel nodded.
He opened a folder and removed a yellowed envelope.
The handwriting on the front was delicate and familiar.
Daniel Carter.
I recognized it immediately.
My mother had written birthday cards in exactly that style.
Samuel handed it to me.
Inside was a short letter.
Daniel,
I know I have no right to ask you to trust me after everything that happened.
But Nia deserves to know the truth.
Please don't let them convince her that I abandoned her.
I'm alive.
Elena.
I pressed the paper against my chest.
For twelve years, I had believed my mother had died.
I had cried for her at school performances.
I had imagined what she might have said when I graduated.
When my father died, I had thought I was completely alone.
But she had been alive.
Somewhere.
All this time.
"Why didn't Dad tell me?""
Samuel answered gently.
"He was trying to locate her. He didn't want to raise your hopes until he had confirmation.""
I looked toward Vanessa.
"Did you know?""
She wiped her cheeks.
"Yes.""
The admission hit harder than I expected.
"You knew my mother was alive?""
Vanessa nodded.
"Richard told me.""
I turned toward my uncle.
He was standing near the dining room doors, his face pale.
"Why?""
Richard exhaled sharply.
"Your mother was involved in a business dispute with your father. Their marriage had been falling apart.""
Arthur's expression hardened.
"That's not true.""
Richard ignored him.
"She left. Daniel told everyone she had died because he didn't want questions.""
I shook my head.
"My father wouldn't lie about something like that.""
Richard gave a bitter laugh.
"You barely knew what was happening between them.""
I looked at him.
"I was nine.""
"Exactly.""
Arthur stood.
"Richard, stop.""
But I wasn't finished.
"Where is she?""
Nobody answered.
I turned toward Samuel.
"Please. I need to see her.""
Samuel nodded.
"I have an address. Your father gave it to me before he died.""
He opened another folder.
Inside was a photograph of a modest white house surrounded by trees.
The address was in a coastal town several hours away.
There was also a recent photograph.
A woman stood on the front porch.
Her hair was shorter than I remembered.
There were silver strands near her temples.
But the eyes were unmistakable.
My mother's eyes.
I began crying.
Not because I was sad.
Because for the first time in twelve years, I had something I thought I would never have again.
A possibility.
"How recent is this?"" I asked.
"Three months ago," Samuel replied.
"Is she still there?""
"I believe so.""
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
"Don't go.""
I turned toward her.
She stepped closer.
"You don't understand. She's not who you think she is.""
I stared at her.
"You have no right to tell me who my mother is.""
"She left you!""
"You told me she was dead.""
"I didn't make that decision.""
"But you knew.""
Vanessa looked down.
Arthur approached her.
"How long have you known?""
"Since the year after Daniel died.""
"Four years?""
She nodded.
"And you said nothing?""
Vanessa's voice became defensive.
"Richard said it was better that way.""
Richard exploded.
"Don't put this on me!""
She turned toward him.
"You told me she would come back and destroy everything!""
Arthur went completely still.
"Destroy what?""
Vanessa covered her mouth.
My uncle stared at her.
She had said too much.
I leaned forward.
"What did my mother know?""
Richard shook his head.
"Nothing. She was unstable. She was obsessed with Daniel's money.""
Samuel interrupted.
"That's an interesting accusation considering Elena Carter was the original founder of the company's property division.""
I looked at him.
"What?""
Samuel opened a document.
"Your mother had a background in commercial property development. She helped Daniel establish Carter Holdings before their marriage.""
Arthur nodded slowly.
"Elena was brilliant. Daniel used to say she could identify a profitable property from a single photograph.""
"Then why did everyone tell me she had no involvement?""
"Because she withdrew from the business after your birth," Arthur replied.
Samuel placed another document on the table.
"Actually, she never relinquished her shares.""
I blinked.
"How many?""
"Thirty percent.""
The room fell silent.
Thirty percent.
My mother owned almost a third of the company.
My father had left me his shares.
And my mother had apparently retained hers.
"Does she still own them?""
Samuel nodded.
"Legally, yes.""
Richard suddenly laughed.
"That doesn't matter. She hasn't been involved for twelve years.""
Samuel looked at him.
"Ownership doesn't disappear because someone stops attending meetings.""
My uncle's face darkened.
Arthur turned toward him.
"How much did you take from the company, Richard?""
"Nothing.""
"Then why are you so frightened of Elena returning?""
Richard grabbed his jacket.
"I'm finished with this conversation.""
He pushed past the security guard and headed toward the entrance.
Nobody stopped him.
But before he reached the door, Samuel spoke.
"One more thing, Richard.""
My uncle stopped.
"The company received a formal notice from Elena's legal representative last week.""
Arthur looked startled.
"What notice?""
Samuel opened his briefcase.
"A demand for a complete accounting of her shares and all transactions made without her authorization.""
Richard slowly turned around.
His face had lost every trace of color.
I looked at the letter.
My mother wasn't simply alive.
She was preparing to come back.
And she knew something about the company.
Something that had made my uncle terrified.
I looked at Samuel.
"When can we go to her?""
"Tomorrow morning.""
"Then we're going tomorrow.""
Arthur reached for my hand.
"I'll come with you.""
I nodded.
Then I remembered something.
The night of the accident.
My father had been driving me somewhere.
He had been taking me to meet my mother.
I looked at the parking receipt again.
"Samuel?""
"Yes?""
"Why was I in the car?""
He hesitated.
"Your father believed you were in danger.""
My throat tightened.
"From whom?""
Samuel looked toward Richard.
Then toward Vanessa.
"From someone who knew about your inheritance and wanted to make certain you never received it.""
I stared at him.
"Are you saying the accident was meant to kill me?""
Samuel didn't answer.
Instead, he placed a final photograph on the table.
It showed the wrecked car.
The passenger door was open.
And on the roadside, barely visible in the darkness, was a second vehicle.
A black SUV.
Samuel pointed toward the license plate.
"Your father managed to photograph this vehicle shortly before the collision.""
I leaned closer.
The plate was partially obscured by mud.
But the first three characters were visible.
C-A-R.
Arthur suddenly stood.
"That's Richard's old company vehicle.""
My uncle said nothing.
May you like
And Vanessa began crying again.
But this time, nobody comforted her.
