Chapter 11: My Mother's Letter
The physician escorted us into a private consultation room.
Dad sat with his elbows on his knees, staring at the floor.
"I never came here," he repeated.
"I've never even heard of this place.""
Officer Harris photographed the archived visitor records.
The doctor brought up the original entry.
*VISITOR: RICHARD BENNETT.*
A signature appeared beneath it.
It looked remarkably similar to Dad's.
Margaret examined it.
"Who authorized the visit?""
Dr. Wallace checked the file.
"An employee named Patricia Cole. She worked in patient administration.""
"Where is she now?""
"She retired three years ago.""
Officer Harris made a note.
"Can you contact her?""
The doctor nodded.
Meanwhile, I held my mother's letter.
I was afraid to open it.
What if it contained another terrible truth?
What if she had been alive all these years and never tried to contact me?
Dad noticed my hesitation.
He sat beside me.
"Whatever is inside, sweetheart, we'll face it together.""
I carefully broke the seal.
The first sentence made me sob.
My darling Maya, if you're holding this letter, then I have failed to come home to you.
I pressed the paper against my chest.
Then I continued reading.
I don't know how much time has passed since the accident. I remember the rain. I remember someone following my car. I remember trying to call your father.
When I woke up, a woman named Rebecca told me that I had been found alive.
She said I had no identification and that someone had taken my belongings.
I asked for Richard. I asked for my little girl.
But nobody came.
My eyes blurred.
Mom had been awake.
She had asked for me.
And nobody had brought me to her.
The letter continued.
Rebecca eventually discovered that the accident report had been altered. She found my name on a death certificate. According to the authorities, I had been buried.
I was frightened. I couldn't remember everything, and I didn't know whom to trust.
Rebecca told me that Daniel had visited the hospital pretending to be your father. He told the doctors that I had no family who wanted contact with me.
Dad covered his mouth.
"Oh, Isabelle.""
I continued.
I tried to contact Richard once I could walk again. But someone intercepted my letters. I later learned that Nicole had married him.
My father lowered his head.
Mom's next words nearly destroyed me.
I watched you grow up from a distance whenever I could. I saw your school photographs. I saw your birthday pictures. I wanted to run to you so many times.
But Daniel threatened to take you away if I ever appeared.
I looked at Dad.
"She knew about me.""
He nodded, tears running down his cheeks.
"She never stopped loving you.""
I kept reading.
There is something I need you to understand. I did not abandon you. I did not leave you willingly. And I never gave up my rights as your mother.
The money I left you is yours. But more important than that, I left you the truth.
If you're old enough to read this, find Rebecca. She has the documents that prove what Daniel and Nicole did.
And Maya, please remember one thing.
Your father is not the enemy.
I looked up.
Dad was crying silently.
The final paragraph was written in larger letters.
If Richard is beside you when you read this, tell him I never blamed him for what happened. I know he would have searched for me if he had known I was alive.
At the bottom was a final sentence.
I am still your mother. And I am waiting for the day I can hold you again.
I couldn't stop crying.
Dad pulled me into his arms.
For several minutes, neither of us spoke.
Then Officer Harris returned.
"We found Patricia Cole.""
Margaret stood.
"Did she confirm the visitor?""
"She did. But she also told us something important.""
"What?""
Officer Harris opened his notebook.
"She remembers the man who came here. He wasn't alone.""
Dad wiped his eyes.
"Who was with him?""
"Nicole Bennett.""
I felt the anger return.
"She knew Mom was alive.""
Officer Harris nodded.
"And there's more. Patricia says the visitor asked about a second patient who had been admitted the same night as Isabelle.""
"Who?"" Margaret asked.
Officer Harris looked at his notes.
"A man named Samuel Reed. He died two days after admission.""
Dad frowned.
"Why is that important?""
"Because his fingerprints were the ones attached to Isabelle's supposed death identification.""
Margaret went pale.
"Someone used a dead man's fingerprints to identify Isabelle?""
Officer Harris nodded.
"That's what we're investigating.""
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
"Yes?""
He listened.
His expression changed.
"You're sure?""
He looked toward Dad.
"We located Rebecca Miller.""
My heart leaped.
"Where?""
Officer Harris lowered his phone.
"She's at her home. But she called the police herself.""
"Why?"" Dad asked.
The officer took a breath.
"Because someone just tried to break into her house.""
We arrived at Rebecca's address under police protection.
The house was small, with white curtains and a garden full of flowers.
A woman stood behind the front door.
She looked older than the photograph.
But I recognized her immediately.
Rebecca.
She opened the door and stared at Dad.
"Richard?""
Dad nodded.
Rebecca covered her mouth.
Then she looked at me.
"Oh, sweetheart.""
She reached for my face with trembling hands.
"You look exactly like your mother.""
I started crying.
"Where is she?""
Rebecca glanced toward the hallway.
"She's safe.""
"Where?""
Rebecca's eyes filled with tears.
"She's been staying with me for the last four years.""
I stopped breathing.
"Can I see her?""
Rebecca hesitated.
Then she stepped aside.
"There's something you need to know first.""
She led us into the living room.
On the coffee table sat a recent photograph.
A woman with silvering hair stood beside a window.
It was my mother.
Alive.
But Rebecca placed another photograph beside it.
This one showed my mother sitting in a wheelchair.
May you like
And written on the back were the words:
She doesn't know who Maya is.
