Chapter 11: How Lauren Found Me
I stared at Rachel's sentence until the words blurred.
*It was not an accident.*
Lauren and I had met at a charity 5K two years after Rachel died.
At least, that was the story I'd believed.
I had been wearing Ethan on my shoulders after he got tired halfway through the children's walk.
Lauren had approached with Chloe.
Our kids started talking.
Then we did.
A coincidence.
A sweet story we told at our wedding.
Apparently Rachel had feared it years before it happened.
I continued reading.
*Patricia knows your name. She knows Ethan's name. She knows enough about my parents' estate to understand that if anything happens to me, the remaining assets eventually pass through Ethan's trust.*
My stomach turned.
Rachel had discovered the transfers six months before her death.
She had reported them internally.
Patricia denied wrongdoing and claimed the transfers were reimbursements authorized by Rachel's father.
Rachel didn't believe her.
Neither did the accountant she'd hired privately.
Then came a sentence underlined twice.
*Some of the missing money was placed in Lauren's name. I don't know whether Lauren knows. Do not blame a daughter for what her mother may have done without her knowledge.*
I stopped.
Even now, Rachel was more fair to Lauren than Lauren had ever been to Ethan.
I kept reading.
Rachel had planned to pursue the matter after obtaining complete records.
She never got the chance.
Her death had been sudden and medically documented.
There was nothing in the letter suggesting otherwise.
But Patricia apparently believed Rachel had left enough evidence behind to destroy her.
And somehow, years later, Patricia's daughter had entered my life.
I called Lauren.
She answered immediately.
“Daniel?””
“Did you know who I was before we met?””
Silence.
My chest tightened.
“Answer me.””
“I knew your name.””
That hurt more than I expected.
“How?””
“My mother.””
“You told me we'd never met.””
“We hadn't.””
“You told me you'd never heard of Rachel.””
“I lied.””
I closed my eyes.
“Why?””
“Because Mom told me you'd hate me if you knew.””
“Why would I hate you?””
“Because of the money.””
“So you knew.””
“Not everything.””
“How much?””
Lauren started crying.
“I knew Mom had used an account in my name years ago.””
“For stolen money.””
“She said it wasn't stolen.””
“What did she say?””
“That Rachel's father had promised her compensation for work she'd done managing foundation accounts.””
“Did you believe her?””
“When I was nineteen? Yes.””
“And later?””
Silence.
“When did you stop believing her?””
“After we got married.””
The answer hit like a slap.
“You married me while suspecting your mother stole from Rachel's family?””
“I loved you.””
“Don't use that word.””
“I did!””
“Did Patricia send you to that 5K?””
Lauren sobbed.
“Yes.””
I sat down.
The hotel room suddenly felt too small.
“She knew I'd be there.””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“She followed your public posts.””
I remembered sharing the fundraiser because it supported the hospital where Rachel had worked.
“You approached me on purpose.””
“At first.””
My stomach twisted.
“At first?””
“Mom wanted me to find out whether you knew anything about the old accounts.””
“And then?””
“Then I liked you.””
I almost laughed.
The sound that came out wasn't laughter.
“You investigated a grieving widower for your mother.””
“I was twenty-nine and terrified she was going to prison.””
“And Chloe?””
“She had nothing to do with it.””
“You brought her.””
“I thought you'd trust another single parent.””
That sentence finished something inside me.
Every memory of our beginning changed.
Lauren bringing me coffee after the walk.
Lauren telling me how “strange” it was that we'd met.
Lauren saying Rachel sounded wonderful.
All of it contaminated.
“Did you ever search my house?””
“No.””
“Lauren.””
“Not your house.””
“What does that mean?””
“Your mother's garage.””
I stood.
“What?””
“Last Christmas.””
My hands curled into fists.
“You went through Rachel's boxes?””
“Mom told me there might be records.””
“And you found them?””
“No. Your mother came outside.””
I remembered.
Lauren had disappeared during Christmas dinner for nearly twenty minutes.
She'd claimed she was taking a phone call.
“You've been lying to me since the day we met.””
“I was trying to protect my family.””
“So was Rachel.””
Lauren became silent.
I looked toward the bedroom.
Ethan and Chloe were still sleeping.
“What changed in June?””
“Mom found out about the accounting requirement.””
“How?””
“She contacted someone who used to work with Rachel's parents.””
“And that's when you started planning to move Ethan out?””
“No.””
“You'd already excluded him from Orlando.””
“I know.””
“Why?””
Her answer came quietly.
“Because I resented him.””
At least it was true.
“I hated how guilty that made me,” she continued.
“You were so patient with him. Every time he needed you, I saw how different you were with him.””
“Different from Chloe?””
“No. Different from me.””
I frowned.
“You expected me to love you the way I love my child?””
“I know how insane that sounds.””
“Yes.””
“Mom kept telling me you would never fully be mine while Ethan was there.””
“And you listened.””
“Yes.””
The word was almost inaudible.
Then Lauren said, “But after June, it wasn't just jealousy anymore.””
“What was it?””
“Mom told me if Ethan's residence changed before his birthday, she could delay the trust accounting.””
“I already know.””
“She said she only needed six months.””
“For what?””
“To replace the money.””
My pulse jumped.
“With what money?””
“I don't know.””
“Lauren.””
“I swear.””
Then she added, “But she sold something last month.””
“What?””
“I don't know exactly. Property, maybe.””
“How much did she need to replace?””
Lauren hesitated.
“More than you think.””
“How much?””
“Daniel…”
“Say it.””
“Almost nine hundred thousand dollars.””
I stared at the wall.
The original transfers hadn't totaled anywhere near that.
“Why nine hundred thousand?””
“Interest. Investment growth. Other money.””
“What other money?””
Lauren started crying again.
“Ask my mother.””
“I am asking you.””
“I don't know!””
Then I heard Patricia shouting in the background.
“Hang up!””
Lauren whispered, “There's something else.””
“What?””
“Mom knows you're talking to Mercer.””
“How?””
“I don't know.””
A loud crash came through the phone.
Lauren gasped.
“Mom, stop!””
“Lauren?””
The line crackled.
Then Patricia's voice appeared.
“Daniel, you have no idea what you're destroying.””
I stood.
“Where's Lauren?””
“You think Rachel was innocent?””
“Put your daughter back on.””
“Rachel stole from us first.””
My heart stopped.
“What are you talking about?””
But Patricia had already hung up.
Thirty seconds later, my phone buzzed.
A photograph from Lauren.
A handwritten ledger.
Rachel's name appeared repeatedly.
Beside it were payments totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.
May you like
And at the bottom, in handwriting I recognized as Rachel's, were four words:
*Patricia deserves her share.*
