Chapter 13: The Woman in My Mother’s Room
I couldn’t stop staring at the photograph.
My mother looked tiny beneath the hospital blanket.
Her cheeks were hollow.
Her skin was pale.
And beside her stood Vanessa.
The woman who would eventually marry my father.
The woman who had spent years telling me she had never met my mother.
“What’s in the envelope?”” I asked.
Daniel enlarged the photograph.
Vanessa held a cream-colored envelope against her hip.
Something was written across it.
Too blurred to read.
Dad stared at the screen.
“She planned this.””
His voice sounded hollow.
“She called me away so she could get into Laura’s room.””
Nathan nodded slowly.
“And Michael arrived while Richard was gone.””
Daniel looked between us.
“They may both have been there.””
“Then why photograph Vanessa?””
I asked.
“Who took this?””
Daniel checked the affidavit.
“Vanessa claims a hospital employee took it after Laura asked them to document the meeting.””
I almost laughed.
“My mother supposedly wanted proof she met the woman trying to manipulate her husband?””
Daniel’s expression remained serious.
“That’s what Vanessa is claiming.””
Dad paced toward the window.
“We need hospital records.””
“I’ve already requested them.””
“The hearing is tomorrow.””
“Which is why we need something faster.””
I suddenly remembered Mom’s recording.
“Nurse Caroline.””
Everyone looked at me.
“Mom mentioned Nurse Caroline.””
Daniel immediately searched through the scanned hospital documents.
“Caroline Hayes.””
He picked up his phone.
Twenty minutes later, we had an address.
Caroline Hayes was retired.
She lived twelve miles away.
When we arrived, an elderly Black woman opened the door before we reached the porch.
She looked at Dad.
Then at me.
Her expression changed.
“Laura’s girl.””
My throat tightened.
“You remember me?””
“I remember your mother.””
Caroline invited us inside.
Her living room smelled like cinnamon tea.
Daniel placed the photograph on her coffee table.
“Do you recognize this?””
Caroline put on her glasses.
The moment she saw Vanessa, her mouth tightened.
“Yes.””
Dad leaned forward.
“She was there?””
“Oh, she was there.””
My heart sank.
Vanessa hadn’t lied about everything.
“What happened?””
Caroline looked at me.
“Your mother asked me to stay nearby.””
“Why?””
“Because she was frightened.””
“Of Vanessa?””
“Of her brother.””
Caroline pointed at the photograph.
“That woman came first.””
“What did she want?””
“She said she needed to confess something.””
Dad whispered, “Confess?””
Caroline nodded.
“She told Laura a man had paid her to approach Richard.””
Nathan leaned forward.
“Michael?””
“I never heard the name.””
“What was in the envelope?””
“Money.””
That surprised me.
“Money?””
“Vanessa returned it.””
Dad frowned.
“Why?””
Caroline looked at him.
“She said she couldn’t go through with the plan.””
Nobody spoke.
That didn’t fit the Vanessa I knew.
Caroline continued.
“Your mother didn’t forgive her.””
I almost smiled.
“That sounds like Mom.””
“But Laura listened.””
“What did Vanessa tell her?””
“That someone planned to challenge the trust after Laura died.””
Daniel asked, “Did Laura sign anything?””
“No.””
“Did Vanessa give her documents?””
“No.””
“Did Laura tell Vanessa she regretted leaving Emily the house?””
Caroline’s eyebrows rose.
“Absolutely not.””
I exhaled.
“Can you testify to that?””
Caroline looked at me.
“I can do better.””
She stood and disappeared into another room.
When she returned, she carried an old phone.
“I kept this because your mother asked me to.””
My pulse jumped.
“What is it?””
“A video.””
Dad went still.
Caroline opened a file.
The footage showed Mom’s hospital room.
The date was October seventh.
Vanessa stood beside the bed.
The same clothes as the photograph.
Mom’s voice was weak but firm.
“You took money to interfere with my family.””
Vanessa was crying.
“Yes.””
“From my brother?””
“Yes.””
Dad covered his mouth.
Mom continued.
“And you approached my husband?””
“Yes.””
“Did Richard know Michael sent you?””
“No.””
“Did Richard agree to challenge Emily’s trust?””
“No.””
My eyes filled.
Mom had documented everything.
Then she asked the question that mattered most.
“Do I want my daughter removed from her home?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
“Say it clearly.””
“No. You said the house belongs to Emily.””
“And have I signed anything changing that?””
“No.””
Daniel whispered, “That’s devastating evidence.””
The video continued.
Mom looked directly toward the camera.
“If anyone later claims otherwise, they are lying.””
I started crying.
I couldn’t help it.
My mother had been dying.
And she was still protecting me.
Then a knock sounded on the video.
Vanessa turned.
Michael entered.
His face changed when he saw her.
“What are you doing here?””
Vanessa stepped away from the bed.
“I’m done.””
Michael’s expression hardened.
“No, you’re not.””
Mom reached toward the phone.
The image shook.
Michael moved closer.
Then the video ended.
“What happened next?”” Dad demanded.
Caroline’s face darkened.
“Michael ordered me out.””
“You left Laura alone with him?””
“Only long enough to call security.””
She looked at me.
“When I returned, he was gone.””
“And the signed pages?””
“Missing.””
Daniel sat back.
“That’s our chain.””
I looked at Caroline.
“Will you come tomorrow?””
She took my hand.
“For Laura?””
Her eyes hardened.
“Try keeping me away.””
My phone buzzed.
A message from Vanessa.
I nearly deleted it.
Then I read it.
EMILY, I KNOW YOU HATE ME.
BUT MICHAEL DOESN’T KNOW I KEPT THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT HE MADE ME SIGN.
I stared at the screen.
A second message arrived.
IT PROVES HE PAID ME TO TARGET YOUR FATHER.
A third followed.
AND IT PROVES THE RENT PLAN WAS HIS.
May you like
Then the last one.
IF YOU WANT IT, COME GET IT BEFORE HE DOES.
