Chapter 2: The Photograph From Three Days Before Mom Died
Nobody spoke.
The photograph trembled in my father's hand.
I had seen hundreds of pictures of my mother growing up. Her smile, her brown eyes, the little dimple in her left cheek.
But I'd never seen this one.
And I'd certainly never seen Vanessa standing beside her.
“Give me that,” Vanessa demanded.
Dad moved the photograph behind his back.
“No.””
“Michael, you're misunderstanding what you're looking at.””
“Then explain it.””
Vanessa glanced toward Madison.
“She's upset. She doesn't know what she's saying.””
Madison wiped her cheeks.
“I know exactly what I'm saying.””
“Madison!”” Vanessa barked.
“You told me Emily's mother was a terrible person. You said she abandoned Dad. You said—”
“Go upstairs!””
“No!””
Madison's voice broke.
“You said if I ever told Emily about the hospital, something terrible would happen to us.””
Dad stepped between them.
“Enough. Both of you, sit down.””
Vanessa refused.
Instead, she reached for her purse.
“I am not participating in this ridiculous interrogation.””
Dad's expression hardened.
“Then perhaps you can participate in a conversation with my attorney.””
That stopped her.
I looked at the photograph again.
The hospital entrance was visible behind Mom and Vanessa. Mom wore a pale blue sweater, and her hair was pulled into a loose ponytail.
She looked tired.
Very tired.
But she was smiling.
I touched the image with one finger.
“Dad, why did you tell me Mom didn't have any family?””
He looked at me.
“I didn't know she had a sister.””
“But you knew she was an only child.””
He swallowed.
“That's what Vanessa told me.””
I turned toward my stepmother.
“Why?””
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Your mother was a complicated woman, Emily. She had a history of unstable relationships.””
“That's not an answer.””
“You were a child. We protected you from unnecessary details.””
“By lying about my family?””
She looked away.
Dad took out his phone again.
“I'm calling Daniel.””
Daniel Brooks was Dad's attorney. He had handled my parents' estate after Mom died and had remained our family lawyer ever since.
Dad put the call on speaker.
“Michael?”” Daniel answered.
“Everything okay?””
“No. I need you to come over. And I need you to bring the original paperwork from Claire's estate.””
There was a pause.
“Claire's estate?””
“Yes.””
“Michael, we discussed this years ago. I thought you had everything resolved.””
“So did I.””
Dad looked at Vanessa.
“Apparently, I was wrong.””
Daniel agreed to come.
While we waited, I went into my bedroom.
The destroyed dress was still lying on the carpet.
I picked up a piece of white lace and pressed it against my palm.
My mother had loved white dresses.
I remembered one summer afternoon when I was six. She had stood in front of my bedroom mirror, brushing my hair while I wore a white cotton sundress.
“Never let anybody make you feel like you aren't worth showing up for,” she'd told me.
At the time, I thought she was talking about school.
Now I wondered whether she'd been trying to tell me something else.
A knock sounded.
Madison stood in the doorway.
Her mascara had run down both cheeks.
“Can I come in?””
I didn't answer.
She stepped inside anyway.
“I'm sorry.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Sorry for the dress or sorry you got caught?””
She looked at the ruined fabric.
“Both.””
“Why did you do it?””
Madison sat on the edge of my bed.
For once, she wasn't wearing her usual confident expression.
“Mom told me you couldn't go to prom.””
“Why?””
“She said your aunt might be there.””
I frowned.
“Who is she?””
“Her name is Rebecca. Rebecca Hayes.””
The name meant nothing to me.
Madison continued.
“Mom said she was dangerous. She told me Rebecca had been trying to destroy our family for years.””
“Then why did you say she was my mother's sister?””
Madison stared at her hands.
“Because I saw the letters.””
“What letters?””
“Mom kept them in a locked drawer in her dressing room. I found the key last summer.””
My heart began pounding.
“What did they say?””
“She said Rebecca wanted to meet you. That she'd been writing for years. Every letter had your name on it.””
I stared at her.
“Did you read them?””
Madison nodded.
“One of them said your mother had left something for you. Something important.””
Before I could ask anything else, Vanessa appeared.
“Madison. Get out.””
Madison stood.
“I'm telling her.””
Vanessa's face tightened.
“You have no idea what you're doing.””
“Yes, I do. I'm tired of lying.””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“Your father has already ruined your prom dress. Do you really want him ruining the rest of our lives?””
Madison flinched.
I noticed.
That wasn't the reaction of someone hearing an ordinary threat.
“What's she talking about?”” I asked.
Vanessa ignored me.
“Madison, downstairs. Now.””
My stepsister walked past her without another word.
Vanessa remained in the doorway.
“You should be careful about believing everything you hear, Emily.””
I looked directly at her.
“I learned that from you.””
For the first time, she had no response.
Twenty minutes later, Daniel arrived carrying a thick leather folder.
He examined the photograph.
Then he looked at Dad.
“Where did you get this?””
“Madison's purse.””
Daniel's expression changed.
“Michael, we need to talk privately.””
“No. Emily stays.””
Daniel hesitated before opening the folder.
“After Claire died, there were several matters involving her estate. One concerned a trust established shortly before her death.””
Dad frowned.
“What trust?””
Daniel turned a page.
“A trust in Emily's name. It included a property interest, investment accounts, and a substantial life-insurance settlement.””
I stared at him.
“Mom left me money?””
“More than money,” Daniel replied.
“Your mother wanted to ensure you would have financial security when you turned eighteen.””
Dad looked confused.
“I thought the insurance was used to cover the medical bills.””
“Some of it was. But the trust was supposed to remain untouched.””
Daniel paused.
“Unfortunately, the person designated to administer certain documents was Vanessa.””
Dad slowly turned toward his wife.
“Why?””
Vanessa's face had gone pale.
“She was helping me,” Dad said.
“You told me she was helping with the paperwork.””
Daniel nodded.
“That's what the file says. But there is a problem.””
He removed another document.
“According to the original agreement, Claire's sister Rebecca was supposed to be the co-trustee.””
I looked at the photograph.
Then at Vanessa.
“Why was she removed?””
Daniel studied the signature at the bottom of the document.
“Because someone submitted a statement claiming Rebecca had voluntarily surrendered her rights.””
Dad leaned forward.
“Who signed it?””
Daniel turned the paper around.
The signature was unmistakable.
Vanessa Carter.
But underneath it was another name.
A witness.
Michael Carter.
My father's face drained of color.
He stared at the signature for several seconds.
“I never signed this.””
Daniel looked up.
“Michael, are you absolutely certain?””
Dad's hands began shaking.
“That's my name, but I never saw this document.””
Vanessa suddenly grabbed the folder.
Daniel pulled it away.
“Don't touch that.””
She stepped backward.
May you like
Then she said something that made my father go completely still.
“Rebecca was never supposed to come back.””
