Chapter 5: The Letters My Father Buried
I held the photograph so tightly that its edges bent against my fingers.
The woman in it looked about twenty-five. Dark brown hair. A familiar little crease between her eyebrows. The same eyes I saw every morning in the mirror.
I had never met her.
Yet something about her face felt like looking at a photograph of myself taken years before I was born.
“Who is Lily?”” I asked again.
My father finally answered.
“She was your mother's daughter. Before you.””
“Your daughter too?””
“No.””
The single word landed heavily.
I looked at him.
“Then who was her father?””
My father stared at the concrete floor.
“Claire was eighteen when she had her.””
Eleanor stepped forward.
“Claire told me about Lily. She was unmarried, frightened, and under enormous pressure from her family. The adoption was supposed to be temporary, but her parents arranged a closed placement.””
“Temporary?”” I repeated.
Eleanor nodded.
“Claire wanted to bring her home. She wanted to raise her. But there were circumstances she couldn't control.””
My father finally looked up.
“I met Claire years later. She told me about the baby before we married.””
“And you knew she was looking for her?””
“I knew.””
“Did you help?””
He looked away.
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Richard had a family to protect. Claire was obsessed with searching for a child who had already been adopted into another home.””
I turned toward her.
“You don't get to describe my mother's love as an obsession.””
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“Your mother was not the saint you imagine.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Watch your mouth.””
“Daniel,” Dad warned.
“No. You've both spent years telling us what we were allowed to remember about Mom. I'm done listening.””
I looked back at the shelves.
There were more envelopes beneath the dresses. Some contained fabric swatches, others handwritten notes.
I opened the one marked with Lily's name.
Inside was a letter.
My darling Lily,
I don't know what you look like now. I don't know whether you like flowers or hate the smell of old books. I don't know whether you have learned to sew.
But every year, on your birthday, I make you a dress.
Your sister Emily doesn't know about you yet. I want to tell her when I can explain everything properly.
Until that day, I will keep making them.
Love, Mom.
I pressed the paper against my chest.
My mother had celebrated a daughter she couldn't hold.
And I had spent my childhood believing I was her only child.
A terrible thought occurred to me.
“Did Dad stop her from finding Lily?””
Eleanor didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she opened her folder and removed a second document.
“Claire contacted me shortly before she died. She was planning to establish a foundation that would support young women from difficult backgrounds who wanted to learn fashion design.””
I glanced at the shelves.
“Were these dresses part of it?””
“Some were. But the foundation had another purpose. Claire wanted to reunite with Lily and make sure both of her daughters would be financially secure.””
I looked at Dad.
“What happened to the foundation?””
He rubbed his jaw.
“It never got off the ground.””
“Why?””
“Claire became sick.””
“That doesn't explain the trust.””
Eleanor placed the papers on the cutting table.
“Your mother had approximately $2.4 million in assets, including the studio, design royalties, and a private trust. You and Lily were named beneficiaries.””
My knees weakened.
“Two daughters?””
“Yes.””
Daniel leaned over the paperwork.
“Then why did we never hear about Lily?””
Eleanor pointed to a paragraph.
“Because someone filed a request to seal the adoption records and removed her name from the beneficiary notifications.””
I looked at the signature.
Richard Carter.
My father had signed it.
He moved toward the table.
“Those documents were prepared under legal advice. Claire agreed to keep things private.””
Eleanor shook her head.
“Claire's private correspondence says otherwise.””
She pulled a letter from her folder.
It was dated four months before Mom died.
Richard,
I know you have been telling me that the search has become impossible. But Eleanor found another lead.
I want Lily to know she has a sister.
I want Emily to know, too.
Please stop blocking the requests. I have already lost too much time.
If you love me, please don't make me choose between my daughters and the life you want us to pretend we have.
I couldn't speak.
My mother's handwriting was shaky, but the words were clear.
I read the letter again.
Then I noticed a line at the bottom.
I know about the transfers. I know what you've been doing with the trust.
I looked up.
“Dad?””
He wouldn't meet my eyes.
“What did you do?””
Vanessa moved toward the door.
Daniel blocked her path.
“Not this time.””
She looked furious.
“Get out of my way.””
“No.””
She grabbed her phone and began dialing.
My father suddenly spoke.
“Emily, you have to understand. Claire was very ill. She wasn't thinking clearly. I made decisions to protect this family.””
I felt tears gathering behind my eyes.
“By stealing money from your daughters?””
“That's not what happened.””
“Then where did it go?””
He opened his mouth, but Eleanor interrupted.
“The transfers weren't random. We traced several payments to a company called VC Holdings.””
Daniel frowned.
“VC?””
Eleanor looked directly at Vanessa.
“Vanessa Carter Holdings.””
My stepmother froze.
For the first time, she had absolutely nothing to say.
I turned toward her.
“You took my mother's money?””
She lifted her chin.
“Your father and I built a life together. I was entitled to—”
“Entitled to what? Her money? Her studio?””
Vanessa's eyes flashed.
“Your mother was dead. Someone had to take control.””
Daniel slammed his palm against the cutting table.
“She had two children!””
“Children who were already provided for!”” Vanessa snapped.
I stared at her.
Then I noticed something.
The photograph of Lily was missing from the table.
I looked around.
Vanessa had been standing beside it.
“Where is the photograph?””
She slowly reached into her handbag.
“It's none of your business.””
I stepped forward.
“Give it back.””
She looked at me with open contempt.
“You really think finding your sister will fix everything? Do you even know what she was like? What she became?””
My heart began racing.
“What are you talking about?””
Vanessa's smile returned, but it was different now. Colder.
“Ask your father why Lily was placed with another family.””
My father lunged toward her.
“Vanessa, shut up!””
She pulled the photograph from her bag, held it up, and dropped it onto the table.
“Because there was a reason Claire never brought her home.””
I looked at the picture.
Then at my father.
“What reason?””
He swallowed.
May you like
And finally admitted:
“Because Lily wasn't adopted by strangers. She was placed with someone we both knew.””
