Chapter 13: The Mother Who Came Back
I couldn’t hear anything except my own heartbeat.
The words kept repeating in my mind.
*Your mother never died.*
Impossible.
My mother had a funeral.
I remembered the flowers.
The people standing around.
The empty feeling of losing her when I was only ten years old.
I remembered my father holding my hand and telling me that some people leave too soon.
But now Rachel was telling me the one person I had spent my entire life grieving…
was alive.
“No.””
The word came out before I could stop it.
“No, Rachel.””
She looked at me with tears in her eyes.
“I know how it sounds.””
“You’re telling me my mother kidnapped Emma?””
Rachel looked away.
“I’m telling you she took her because she believes she has a right to her.””
My hands curled into fists.
“She is seven years old.””
“I know.””
“She’s my daughter.””
Rachel looked at me.
“And she knows that.””
That answer terrified me.
Because Rachel wasn’t defending my mother.
She was afraid of her.
I grabbed my jacket.
“Where would she take her?””
Rachel hesitated.
“Rachel.””
“I don’t know.””
I stared at her.
“You have to know something.””
She closed her eyes.
“Your father told me there was one place she would go if she ever came back.””
“Where?””
“The old family cabin.””
I froze.
The cabin.
The place my father told me never to visit.
The place he said belonged to another part of his life.
“Why would she take Emma there?””
Rachel looked at me.
“Because that’s where everything started.””
Twenty minutes later, we were driving through the woods.
The road was almost impossible to see.
Rain hit the windshield.
My hands were locked around the steering wheel.
Rachel sat beside me.
Silent.
For once, neither of us had anything to hide.
Then she spoke.
“I need to tell you something before we get there.””
I didn’t look at her.
“What?””
“Your mother didn’t leave your father because she stopped loving him.””
“Then why?””
Rachel swallowed.
“Because she believed your father betrayed her.””
“Betrayed her how?””
“She thought he chose Emma over you.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
Rachel looked down.
“Your father found out the truth about Emma’s birth.””
The car became quiet.
“He wanted to protect her.””
“And my mother?””
“She wanted to take Emma away.””
“Why?””
Rachel whispered:
“Because she believed Emma was the key to exposing everything.””
I shook my head.
“She’s a child.””
“I know.””
“Everyone keeps talking about her like she’s an object.””
Rachel’s eyes filled.
“I know.””
That was the thing that hurt most.
Everyone had been fighting over Emma.
But nobody had asked what Emma wanted.
When we reached the cabin, the lights were on.
Someone was inside.
I jumped out before Rachel could stop me.
“Wait.””
I opened the door.
“Emma!””
A voice answered.
“Don’t come any closer.””
I froze.
A woman stepped out from the shadows.
Older.
Tired.
But familiar.
Even after all these years.
I knew her.
My breath caught.
“Mom?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“My son.””
The words nearly knocked the air out of me.
Because some part of me had always imagined this moment.
Finding her.
Hugging her.
Asking why she left.
But not like this.
Not with my daughter missing.
“Where is Emma?””
My mother looked toward the back room.
“She’s safe.””
“Bring her to me.””
“She needs to know the truth.””
I stepped forward.
“She needs her father.””
My mother’s expression changed.
“Father?””
She laughed softly.
“You still don’t understand.””
“Understand what?””
She looked at me.
“Your father lied to you.””
“About what?””
“About who Emma really is.””
My chest tightened.
“I know she’s your granddaughter.””
My mother shook her head.
“No.””
A pause.
“She’s more than that.””
I felt anger rising.
“Don’t do this.””
“Do what?””
“Turn a little girl into another secret.””
My mother looked hurt.
“You sound just like him.””
“Like who?””
“Your father.””
The door behind her opened.
Emma appeared.
Her eyes were red.
“Daddy?””
I moved instantly.
“Emma.””
But my mother stopped me.
“Wait.””
Emma looked between us.
Then whispered:
“Grandma said you weren’t supposed to know.””
My heart broke.
“Know what?””
Emma looked down.
“She said my real family has been looking for me.””
I stepped forward.
“No.””
My mother looked at me.
“She’s not lying.””
“Then explain.””
My mother’s face became serious.
“Because the people who created this entire nightmare are finally coming.””
A sound came from outside.
Multiple cars.
Doors opening.
My mother looked toward the window.
Her expression changed.
May you like
Fear.
“They found us.””
