Chapter 12: The Stranger Who Knew My Mother
I stared at the message.
The reception hall disappeared again.
The words on my phone felt impossible.
What happened the night my mother died?
That was a question I had carried silently for fourteen years.
But I had never expected an answer.
Especially not from a stranger.
Silas noticed my expression.
“What is it?””
I handed him the phone.
He read the message.
His face changed.
Not confusion.
Recognition.
“You know this number?””
I looked at him.
“You do?””
He didn’t answer immediately.
That scared me more than anything.
“Silas?””
He handed the phone back.
“Call the number.””
My fingers hesitated.
Then I pressed.
The phone rang once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then someone answered.
A woman’s voice.
“Jenna?””
I froze.
“Yes.””
A pause.
“I wasn’t sure you would answer.””
“Who are you?””
“My name is Rachel Bennett.””
The name meant nothing.
But Silas reacted.
He whispered,
“Rachel?””
I looked at him.
“You know her?””
His face became serious.
“Yes.””
The woman continued.
“I worked with your mother.””
My heart raced.
“Where?””
“At St. Vincent’s.””
I gripped the phone tighter.
The same hospital.
The same place where everything changed.
“Why are you contacting me?””
Silence.
Then:
“Because your mother asked me to.””
I couldn’t breathe.
“My mother?””
“Yes.””
Rachel’s voice became emotional.
“She knew people would hide things from you.””
I looked at my father.
He lowered his eyes.
“What things?””
Rachel took a breath.
“The truth about the night she died.””
The room was completely silent.
Even Felicity was listening.
“What happened?””
Rachel didn’t answer immediately.
Then she said:
“Your mother didn’t want you to blame yourself.””
My stomach tightened.
“I don’t understand.””
“You were not supposed to be at the hospital that night.””
I froze.
“What?””
Rachel continued.
“Your mother found out you were there.””
I remembered.
I had rushed there after the call.
I had held her hand.
I had cried.
But what was Rachel saying?
“She was worried about you.””
My voice broke.
“She was dying.””
“Yes.””
Rachel paused.
“But she was more worried about what would happen to you afterward.””
My chest tightened.
“What does that mean?””
A long silence.
Then:
“Your mother knew your father was planning to send you away.””
I felt the floor disappear.
“What?””
Everyone reacted.
My father looked up.
Rachel continued.
“She overheard a conversation.””
My eyes moved to him.
“Dad?””
He looked terrified.
“Jenna…”
Rachel’s voice was quiet.
“She knew your father planned to move forward with a decision that would change your life.””
My hands shook.
“What decision?””
The woman on the phone answered:
“Sending you to live with relatives after she died.””
The room gasped.
I stared at my father.
All those years.
All those feelings.
The distance.
The rejection.
Was it because they had planned to remove me?
My father stepped forward.
“No.””
I looked at him.
“Is it true?””
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
That was enough.
Rachel continued.
“But your mother stopped it.””
My breath caught.
“How?””
“She made Silas promise to help protect you.””
I looked at Silas.
He nodded slowly.
“She called me the night before.””
My eyes filled.
“She knew?””
“Yes.””
His voice was quiet.
“She knew she didn’t have much time.””
Rachel continued.
“Your mother wrote those letters because she wanted you to know one thing.””
I whispered:
“What?””
The woman answered:
“You were never unwanted.””
A tear fell.
One sentence.
Four words.
The words I had needed my entire life.
Rachel continued.
“She also asked me to tell you something else.””
I wiped my face.
“What?””
A pause.
Then:
“She said the person who hurt you most was not the person you should spend your life hating.””
I looked at Felicity.
Then my father.
Rachel finished:
“She said the truth would hurt. But she hoped it would finally set you free.””
The call ended.
Nobody spoke.
Then Silas looked toward the entrance.
His expression changed.
“Jenna.””
I followed his gaze.
A man stood outside the reception hall.
Older.
Holding a file.
Watching me.
Silas went pale.
Because he knew him.
“Who is that?””
Silas whispered:
“The person your mother was trying to protect you from.””
The man stepped inside.
And said my name.
“Jenna Carter.””
My heart stopped.
“I’m here because your mother left something behind.””
May you like
He held up the file.
“And it proves your family has been lying to you for fourteen years.””
