Chapter 10: The Mother I Never Knew
I couldn't take my eyes off the birth certificate.
Eleanor stood in the doorway, holding the document with both hands.
Her green eyes were wet.
"Leah," she whispered.
"I'm sorry.""
I shook my head.
"No. Don't apologize yet. Tell me what that document says.""
She stepped inside.
The investigator moved aside, allowing her to approach the table.
Eleanor placed the certificate in front of me.
My mother's name appeared in the center.
Catherine Bennett.
Mother: Eleanor Bennett.
Father: Edward Bennett.
I read the information again.
Then I looked at Eleanor.
"You're my mother's mother?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
"And my grandfather was her father?""
"Yes.""
I pushed the document away.
"Why did everyone lie to me?""
Eleanor lowered her eyes.
"Because your grandfather believed the truth would put your mother in danger.""
"From whom?""
"William Rowan.""
Grant shifted in his chair.
I turned toward him.
"You knew about this?""
He looked uncomfortable.
"My father told me years ago.""
"How many years?""
"Before we got married.""
I stared at him.
"You married me knowing my family history was being hidden from me?""
Grant rubbed his forehead.
"I didn't understand everything.""
"But you understood enough to keep quiet.""
Eleanor pulled out a chair.
"Your mother was born into a complicated situation. My father wanted to acknowledge her, but William convinced him that public recognition would create a legal dispute over the original family trust.""
"Why would William care?""
"Because he believed my existence threatened his family's business arrangements.""
I looked at the certificate.
"Where was my mother raised?""
"With a family in Virginia. Edward arranged everything. He visited her privately, paid for her education, and made sure she was protected.""
I remembered my childhood.
My mother had always been affectionate, but she rarely spoke about her childhood.
When I asked about grandparents, she'd simply say that family was complicated.
I'd assumed she was talking about my father's side.
"Did my mother know?""
Eleanor nodded.
"She discovered the truth when she was twenty-one.""
"Did she know you?""
"We met twice.""
Her voice broke.
"She wanted a relationship. But William threatened to expose certain private documents and destroy Edward's business if we continued meeting.""
I felt tears gathering.
"Why didn't she come back to you?""
Eleanor looked down.
"She was afraid.""
Grant suddenly spoke.
"That's not the whole story.""
I turned toward him.
"Then explain.""
He hesitated.
"My father didn't just threaten them. He arranged a settlement. Your mother signed an agreement surrendering any future claim to the Bennett trust.""
Eleanor shook her head.
"She was twenty-one. She didn't understand what she was signing.""
"She understood enough to take the money," Grant replied.
I stood so quickly that my chair scraped across the floor.
"Don't you dare speak about my mother like that.""
Grant leaned back.
"I'm telling you what happened.""
"No. You're using her name because you think it will make me surrender.""
He looked away.
The investigator intervened.
"Mr. Rowan, we'll address the financial allegations separately. Mrs. Rowan, are you willing to have the document authenticated?""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
Eleanor reached across the table.
"There's something else.""
I looked at her.
"Of course there is.""
She removed another paper from her handbag.
This one was a handwritten letter.
The handwriting was familiar.
My mother's.
I recognized the way she crossed her lowercase t's.
I had hundreds of her old letters stored in a box at home.
My fingers trembled as I unfolded it.
My darling Leah,
If you ever discover the truth about our family, please don't mistake silence for a lack of love.
I wanted you to know Eleanor. I wanted you to have the family I never had. But your grandfather begged me to wait until the danger passed.
He promised that one day everything would be yours to understand.
I hope you will be kinder to him than I have been.
I stopped reading.
There was a second paragraph.
And if the Rowan family ever tries to take what belongs to you, remember that your mother never surrendered her rights willingly.
I looked up.
"What does that mean?""
Eleanor answered quietly.
"Your mother signed the settlement under pressure. Your grandfather later challenged it, but the case was never completed.""
Margaret Ellis immediately took the letter.
"That could change the entire succession dispute.""
Grant's face tightened.
"What dispute?""
She turned toward him.
"The dispute concerning the original trust. If Catherine's settlement was invalid, her beneficial interest may have passed through Leah's line.""
Grant laughed nervously.
"That's ridiculous.""
Eleanor reached into her handbag again.
"Then perhaps you'd like to explain this.""
She placed a final document on the table.
A court filing.
Dated fifteen years earlier.
It showed that Catherine Bennett had initiated proceedings to invalidate the settlement.
The case had been withdrawn two weeks before her death.
I stared at the signature.
"Who withdrew it?""
Eleanor looked at Grant.
"William Rowan's attorney.""
My heart began racing.
"Did my mother know?""
"She was hospitalized when the withdrawal was filed.""
The room fell silent.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from David Mercer.
Leah, we've located the original voting register. But someone has already accessed the archive.
I immediately called him.
"Who accessed it?""
His answer was barely audible.
"Richard Cole.""
I turned toward Margaret Ellis.
"Can we get an emergency order?""
"Yes. But we need the original document.""
I looked at Eleanor.
"Where is it?""
She closed her eyes.
"At the Rowan family residence.""
May you like
Then she added something that made my blood run cold.
"Your grandfather left it with William because he believed William would protect both families.""
