Chapter 13: The Sister My Mother Had Hidden From Me
For a moment, the entire diner went silent.
I stared at Linda.
"Say that again.""
Her hands were shaking.
"Sarah is your half-sister, Emily.""
I shook my head.
"No. Sarah is Elizabeth's daughter. Michael told me that himself.""
Michael looked as though someone had punched him.
"Linda, what are you talking about?""
She turned toward him.
"Elizabeth adopted Sarah.""
Michael went completely still.
I looked between them.
"What?""
Linda wiped her cheeks.
"Elizabeth couldn't have children. Margaret had Sarah after you were born, but the circumstances were complicated. Elizabeth and Michael raised her as their own.""
I looked at the photograph of my mother holding the baby.
"Why would Mom give her daughter to her sister?""
"Because Richard had discovered the pregnancy. He knew Margaret was pregnant again, and he wanted to use the baby as leverage.""
Michael shook his head.
"That's not what Elizabeth told me.""
Linda looked at him sadly.
"Elizabeth knew the truth. She agreed to raise Sarah because it was the only way to keep her safe.""
I felt my legs weaken.
My mother had another daughter.
A little girl who had grown up without knowing me.
A sister who had spent years believing she was the only child in her family.
"Does Sarah know?"" I whispered.
Michael shook his head.
"She knows Elizabeth wasn't her biological mother. We told her that years ago. But we never knew Margaret was her birth mother.""
I looked at Linda.
"Why are you telling me this now?""
She glanced toward Richard.
"Because he's going to kill all of us if we keep protecting his secrets.""
Richard laughed sharply.
"You're becoming dramatic, Linda.""
She turned toward him.
"You promised Claire would be safe.""
His smile disappeared.
"Don't.""
"You promised me that if I helped you, you'd protect my daughter.""
Richard stepped closer.
"Claire has nothing to do with this.""
Linda slapped him.
The sound echoed through the diner.
"You used my grief! You made me believe I could never lose another child!""
Richard grabbed her wrist.
Before he could say anything, Michael pulled him away.
Tom moved between them.
"Everybody calm down!""
Richard straightened his suit.
Then he looked at me.
"You have no idea what your mother did to this family.""
I held the photograph tightly.
"Then explain it.""
He leaned closer.
"Margaret was going to expose the foundation. She didn't care how many people lost their jobs. She didn't care that families depended on the organization. She wanted revenge.""
"She wanted children to receive the money donated for them.""
"She wanted to destroy me.""
"Because you were stealing!""
Richard's jaw tightened.
Then he reached into his briefcase.
He pulled out another document.
"This is the original agreement between Margaret and Elizabeth. It proves Sarah was voluntarily placed with her sister.""
I looked at it.
The signatures appeared genuine.
But at the bottom was a date.
November 2011.
My mother supposedly died in October.
I pointed at it.
"Why was this signed after Mom died?""
Richard's expression changed.
Linda answered.
"Because Margaret was still alive.""
My heart stopped.
"She signed it?""
Linda nodded.
"Richard brought her to a private office. She was recovering from her injuries. She couldn't remember everything, but she recognized Elizabeth's name. He convinced her that signing the papers would protect Sarah.""
Michael covered his mouth.
"My God.""
I looked at Richard.
"You kept my mother alive and made her sign papers she didn't understand?""
He shrugged.
"She needed treatment. I provided it.""
"You kidnapped her.""
"That's an emotional interpretation.""
Tom stepped forward.
"No, Richard. That's a crime.""
Richard looked toward the window.
A black vehicle had pulled into the parking lot.
He smiled.
"Perhaps we should finish this conversation somewhere more private.""
Jace appeared at the diner entrance.
He had been following the situation from outside.
He looked at Tom.
"Police are on their way. Rebecca contacted the state investigators.""
Richard's smile disappeared.
"What?""
Jace held up his phone.
"The recording from Walter's toolbox, the financial records, and the documents you brought in here have already been sent to the authorities.""
Richard turned toward me.
"You little fool.""
I didn't move.
"You should have left things alone.""
I looked him directly in the eyes.
"You should have left my mother alone.""
Two officers entered the diner.
Behind them was Rebecca Collins.
She approached Richard with a folder.
"Richard Hayes, we need you to come with us.""
He laughed.
"On what grounds?""
Rebecca opened the folder.
"Financial fraud, witness intimidation, evidence tampering, and possible involvement in the disappearance of Margaret Parker.""
Richard looked around.
Nobody moved to help him.
Not even Linda.
As the officers escorted him outside, he turned toward me.
"This isn't over, Emily.""
I held my mother's photograph against my chest.
"Yes, it is.""
But I was wrong.
Because Rebecca hadn't finished speaking.
She approached Michael.
"There's something else you need to know.""
Michael looked exhausted.
"What now?""
Rebecca opened another folder.
"We located the original medical facility where Margaret was treated. We also found the nurse who cared for her.""
My heart started racing.
"Is my mother still there?""
Rebecca shook her head.
"No. She was transferred six months ago.""
"Where?""
Rebecca looked at the papers.
Then she gave me an address.
A rehabilitation center outside Louisville.
I looked at Linda.
"Are you coming with us?""
She lowered her head.
"If you'll let me.""
I didn't answer immediately.
Then I said something I never thought I'd say.
"You can come. But you don't get to decide what happens next.""
She nodded.
For the first time in three years, my aunt had nothing to say.
May you like
And I finally had somewhere to go.
To find my mother.
