Chapter 8: The Night Daniel Died
Jasmine drove.
I sat in the passenger seat, reading the anonymous message until every word felt burned into my mind.
Ask Denise what happened the night Daniel died.
For eighteen years, I had believed my father's death was a terrible accident.
A rainy highway.
A truck that crossed the center line.
A phone call in the middle of the night.
My mother had described the event so many times that I could picture it without ever having seen a photograph.
Daniel had been driving home from work. The police had called around midnight. My mother had left the house wearing slippers and returned before dawn with swollen eyes.
She had told me that my father was gone.
That was all.
I had never questioned the details because I had been four years old, and grief had already swallowed everything I understood about the world.
Now someone was telling me to ask what really happened.
"Call Lily," I said.
Jasmine tapped the steering wheel.
"Put it on speaker.""
Lily answered after the first ring.
"Olivia?""
"I'm coming home. Are you okay?""
There was a pause.
"I think so.""
"Where's Mom?""
"In the kitchen.""
"And Uncle Robert?""
"Outside. He left about ten minutes ago.""
"Did he say anything before he left?""
Lily hesitated.
"He said you were going to destroy us.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did he threaten you?""
"No. But he told me I needed to remember who paid for everything in this family.""
I almost laughed.
The people who had taken my education money were still talking about what they had paid for.
"Listen to me," I said.
"Don't argue with anyone. Don't sign anything. If Mom asks you questions about my documents, tell her you don't know where they are.""
"I don't know where they are.""
"Good. And Lily?""
"Yes?""
"If anything makes you feel unsafe, leave the house and go to Mrs. Patterson next door. You remember her?""
"Yes.""
"Promise me.""
"I promise.""
I ended the call.
Jasmine glanced at me.
"You're worried about her.""
"She's fifteen. She shouldn't have to be involved in any of this.""
"Neither should you.""
I looked down at the phone.
"Someone knows something about my father's death.""
Jasmine's expression tightened.
"Who sent the message?""
"I don't know.""
"Could it be Robert?""
"Maybe. But why would he tell me not to trust himself?""
"People do strange things when they're cornered.""
We turned onto my street.
Our house looked exactly as it always had: white siding, a narrow porch, and a basketball hoop Marcus had installed years ago and never used.
But a black sedan was parked across the street.
I recognized it.
Robert's car.
"He came back," I whispered.
Jasmine parked two houses away.
"Do you want me to call someone?""
"No. Stay here while I get Lily.""
She caught my hand.
"Olivia, don't let them pull you into another fight.""
I nodded, though I couldn't promise anything.
I walked up the driveway and opened the front door.
The smell of fried onions drifted from the kitchen.
My mother stood beside the counter, wiping an already clean surface with a dish towel. Lily sat at the table with her schoolbooks open, though she wasn't reading.
"Where have you been?"" my mother demanded.
"With Jasmine.""
"You embarrassed this family in front of hundreds of people, and you went off with your little friend instead of coming home to discuss it?""
"I came home to get Lily.""
Lily immediately began gathering her books.
My mother pointed at her.
"Sit down.""
Lily froze.
"She isn't a prisoner," I said.
My mother dropped the towel.
"Don't you dare tell me how to raise my children.""
"Then stop treating us like property.""
Her face reddened.
"After everything I've done for you—"
"Tell me what happened the night Daniel died.""
The words stopped her cold.
For a moment, the only sound in the kitchen was the refrigerator humming.
Then she laughed nervously.
"What kind of question is that?""
"A simple one.""
"You were four years old. You don't remember anything about that night.""
"That's why I'm asking.""
She folded the dish towel with unnecessary precision.
"Your father died in an accident. I've told you that a hundred times.""
"Who called you?""
"The police.""
"What time?""
"I don't remember.""
"What hospital took him?""
Her eyes flickered.
"He didn't make it to the hospital.""
"Then where was his body taken?""
She stared at me.
"Why are you doing this?""
"Because someone told me to ask you.""
Her face drained of color.
"Who?""
"I don't know.""
"Show me the message.""
"No.""
She stepped toward me.
"Olivia, give me your phone.""
I backed away.
"Stop ordering me around.""
"Do you have any idea what you've started?""
"Then tell me!""
My voice cracked through the kitchen.
Lily began crying quietly.
I turned toward her.
"It's okay.""
"No, it isn't!"" my mother shouted.
"Nothing is okay anymore because you refuse to leave things alone!""
I stared at her.
"Did Daniel know about James?""
She closed her eyes.
"Yes.""
"Did he know there might have been another man?""
Her silence lasted too long.
"Mom?""
She sat down.
For the first time since I had returned home, she looked old.
"Daniel knew there was a possibility," she whispered.
"But he believed that once you were born, the question no longer mattered.""
"Did he ever ask for a DNA test?""
"No.""
"Why not?""
"Because he loved you.""
The answer hurt more than I expected.
I sat opposite her.
"Then why did you lie about everything?""
She rubbed her face.
"I didn't lie about everything.""
"You hid James. You hid the trust. You told me there was no money when there was enough to pay for my entire education.""
"I was trying to keep this family together.""
"By taking money that belonged to me?""
Her voice dropped.
"I made mistakes.""
"How much did you take?""
She stared at the table.
"Mom.""
"Not all the money was taken.""
"How much?""
"I don't know exactly.""
I pushed back my chair.
"That's not an answer.""
She reached for my hand.
I pulled it away.
"Please," she whispered.
"I can explain the money. I can explain the trust. But you must not go digging into Daniel's death.""
My heart stopped.
"Why?""
She looked at me with tears running down her cheeks.
"Because there are things about that night that could hurt people who don't deserve to be hurt.""
"Did Daniel's accident have anything to do with Robert?""
She flinched.
It was small, almost invisible.
But I saw it.
Before she could answer, the front door opened.
Robert walked into the kitchen carrying a paper bag from the grocery store.
He stopped when he saw me.
For a moment, his expression was unreadable.
Then he placed the bag on the counter and smiled.
"Well," he said, "the graduate has finally come home.""
I stood.
"Did you know about the trust?""
His smile disappeared.
Denise rose quickly.
"Robert, we need to talk.""
He ignored her.
"Your mother has had a difficult day. Maybe you should give her some space.""
"Did you know my grandmother left me money?""
He looked at Denise.
That single glance told me more than his words ever could.
"Yes," he admitted.
Lily covered her mouth.
I felt my knees weaken.
"How much did you know?""
Robert sighed.
"Your grandmother was generous. She wanted you to have a future.""
"Did you take any of it?""
"No.""
"Did Marcus?""
Robert's jaw tightened.
"Marcus made some bad decisions.""
"That's not what I asked.""
He stepped toward me.
"Be careful, Olivia. You don't understand how complicated these things can get.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Everyone keeps saying that. Nobody wants to explain anything.""
Robert's expression hardened.
"Because some things should stay buried.""
I thought of the anonymous message.
I thought of my grandmother's warning.
Then I looked at him and asked the question I had been afraid to say aloud.
"Was Daniel's death really an accident?""
The paper bag slipped from Robert's hand.
An orange rolled across the kitchen floor.
My mother made a strangled sound.
Robert stared at me.
May you like
And then he said the words that changed everything.
"Who told you about that night?""
