Chapter 12: The Father My Mother Buried in Lies
I couldn't take my eyes off the photograph.
My father looked younger than I remembered.
Dark hair. A wide smile. One arm wrapped around Grandma's shoulders while the other supported a tiny baby.
Me.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"" I whispered.
Eleanor placed the photograph on the table.
"Your father was named David Carter. He invested the original capital that allowed Rosewood Sweets to expand.""
"But Grandma always said it was her company.""
"She built the business. David financed its expansion and held the original controlling interest through a family investment agreement.""
I stared at the photograph.
"Then what happened to him?""
Eleanor hesitated.
"Your father disappeared shortly after your third birthday.""
I shook my head.
"Mom said he abandoned us.""
"That's what Gloria told everyone.""
"Did Grandma believe that?""
Eleanor lowered her eyes.
"No.""
The answer hit me like a slap.
My grandmother had known something.
And she'd kept it from me.
I felt suddenly angry with everyone.
"Why did she let me grow up thinking he didn't love me?""
Eleanor reached for my hand.
"Because she was trying to protect you from a dispute that involved powerful people.""
"That's not an answer.""
"I know.""
I pulled my hand away.
Tessa sat quietly beside the archive folder.
"Maybe Mom knows where he is.""
I looked at her.
"Then we're going to ask her.""
We drove to Gloria's house.
The front door was unlocked.
That should have been my first warning.
Inside, the living room looked as though someone had searched it in a hurry. Sofa cushions were on the floor, drawers stood open, and several family photographs had been knocked from the walls.
My mother stood beside the dining table.
Daniel Mercer sat in an armchair.
He was older than in Grandma's photograph, with silver hair and a narrow face.
A black leather briefcase rested beside his shoes.
When I entered, he stood.
"Well," he said.
"The granddaughter finally arrives.""
I stepped forward.
"Where is my father?""
Daniel looked at Gloria.
She lowered her head.
"Sit down, Aaliyah.""
"I asked you a question.""
Daniel adjusted his tie.
"Your father was a complicated man.""
"Where is he?""
"That's not something we should discuss in an emotional state.""
I laughed.
"An emotional state? You stole my grandmother's company, forged my signature, and helped my mother take money that belonged to me. I think I'm entitled to a few answers.""
Daniel glanced at Eleanor.
"Who invited you?""
"I came with Aaliyah.""
"This is a private family matter.""
Eleanor put her handbag on the table.
"Then why did you file corporate documents under a false signature?""
Daniel's expression tightened.
"Those documents were properly executed.""
"By whom?""
"Your client's mother.""
Gloria looked up.
"Daniel, stop.""
He ignored her.
"Mrs. Johnson signed an agreement transferring the management rights.""
"She wasn't the owner," Eleanor replied.
Daniel smiled.
"That's where you're wrong.""
He opened his briefcase.
Inside was a thick folder containing several old contracts.
He removed a document and placed it on the table.
"Rosewood was financed by David Carter. When David disappeared, your grandmother assumed control of the business.""
I examined the document.
It was a partnership agreement.
David's name appeared beside a sixty-percent interest.
Grandma's name appeared beside forty percent.
My mouth fell open.
"Why does Mom have anything to do with this?""
Daniel leaned back.
"Because Gloria was David's legal representative under a subsequent family agreement.""
I turned toward my mother.
"Is that true?""
Gloria nodded slowly.
"Your father gave me temporary authority to manage his interests.""
"Why?""
"Because he was leaving.""
"Leaving where?""
She looked away.
"I don't know.""
Daniel interrupted.
"Your father transferred his interests before his disappearance.""
Eleanor stepped forward.
"To whom?""
Daniel hesitated.
Then he placed a second document on the table.
"To his daughter.""
I stared at the page.
*BENEFICIARY: AALIYAH CARTER JOHNSON.*
My fingers began trembling.
"Why does my grandmother's name appear everywhere if my father owned it?""
"Because Rose was the operational founder," Daniel explained.
"She ran the company while David handled the original investment. When he disappeared, Rose became the guardian of the business interest until Aaliyah came of age.""
I looked at Gloria.
"You knew?""
My mother nodded.
"Yes.""
"All these years?""
"Yes.""
I couldn't understand.
"Then why did you tell me he abandoned us?""
Gloria's eyes filled with tears.
"Because I was angry.""
"At him?""
"At everyone.""
She walked toward the dining table.
"Your father loved the business more than he loved his family. He invested everything into Rosewood. He believed Grandma could build something great, and he wanted you to inherit it.""
"Then where did he go?""
Gloria looked at Daniel.
He didn't move.
She finally spoke.
"Before he disappeared, he discovered that money was being transferred out of the company.""
My stomach tightened.
"By whom?""
"Someone he trusted.""
"Who?""
Gloria started crying.
"Your grandmother.""
I shook my head.
"That's impossible.""
Daniel nodded as if he'd been waiting for those words.
"David suspected Rose was mismanaging the accounts. He threatened to expose her. Then he disappeared.""
Eleanor slammed her palm against the table.
"Enough.""
Daniel looked surprised.
"You have no evidence to dispute that.""
Eleanor reached into her handbag and removed another document.
"I have evidence that Rose filed a missing-person report and requested an independent accounting before David disappeared.""
She placed the report beside his contract.
"She also filed a complaint against your firm for unauthorized transfers.""
Daniel's face changed.
Eleanor continued.
"Those complaints were quietly withdrawn after Gloria signed an agreement.""
I looked at my mother.
"What agreement?""
Gloria couldn't answer.
Eleanor pulled out a final sheet.
It was a handwritten statement signed by Gloria.
The date was from four years ago, shortly before Grandma died.
I read the first paragraph.
It stated that Gloria had accepted responsibility for concealing the true ownership of Rosewood Sweets.
In exchange, Daniel had promised to locate David Carter and prevent further financial claims against the estate.
My throat tightened.
"Mom, you knew where Dad was?""
Gloria began shaking her head.
"I didn't know where he was living.""
"But you knew he was alive?""
She looked at me.
And I saw the answer before she spoke.
"Yes.""
Four years of believing my father had abandoned me.
Four years of asking Grandma whether he ever sent birthday cards.
Four years of wondering what I'd done wrong.
He was alive.
My mother had known.
"Why?"" I whispered.
Gloria covered her face.
"Because if he came back, everything would belong to you.""
Daniel stood abruptly.
"This conversation is over.""
Eleanor stepped in front of him.
"Not until we finish reviewing the evidence.""
He grabbed his briefcase.
Tessa suddenly blocked the hallway.
"You're not leaving.""
Daniel glared at her.
"Move.""
"No.""
He tried to push past.
Tessa raised her phone.
"I recorded everything.""
Daniel froze.
"What?""
"I started recording when we walked in.""
For the first time, his confidence disappeared.
Eleanor took Tessa's phone.
"Thank you.""
Then a loud knock sounded at the front door.
Everyone turned.
Two police officers stood outside, accompanied by a woman carrying a thick legal folder.
Gloria began crying again.
Daniel looked toward the back entrance.
But before he could move, the woman stepped inside.
"My name is Rachel Collins. I'm representing David Carter.""
I felt the room tilt.
"David Carter?""
She nodded.
"Your father.""
My lips parted.
"Is he alive?""
Rachel opened her folder.
"Yes. And he has been trying to contact you for the past eleven years.""
I grabbed the edge of the table.
"Then why didn't he?""
Rachel placed a sealed envelope in front of me.
"Because someone sent him a document claiming you had been legally adopted by another family and that you wanted no contact with him.""
I looked at Gloria.
She couldn't meet my eyes.
Rachel continued.
"Your father has requested an immediate meeting with you. But before he arrives, there's something you need to know.""
She opened another document.
"David didn't disappear because he abandoned his family.""
She turned the paper toward me.
"Four years ago, he discovered that someone had used his name to sell the controlling shares of Rosewood Sweets.""
I stared at the signature.
It was unmistakably forged.
And beneath the document was the name of the buyer.
*GLORIA JOHNSON.*
My mother had not only stolen Grandma's company.
May you like
She had stolen my father's shares, too.
And the woman who had raised me had spent nineteen years making sure I never knew who I really was.
