Chapter 3: The Woman Who Paid for Prom
"Mom, I can't keep lying to him.""
Madison's voice trembled across the patio.
Vanessa spun toward her.
"Shut your mouth.""
My father stepped between them.
"Don't you dare speak to her like that.""
Madison wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. Her mascara had begun to run, leaving dark streaks beneath her eyes.
For once, she didn't look like the confident girl who had spent years making me feel small.
She looked terrified.
My father held up his phone.
"Madison, I need you to tell me what your mother meant when she said someone might recognize Emily.""
Madison looked at me.
Then she looked at Vanessa.
Finally, she whispered, "Emily wasn't supposed to be invited to prom because the woman paying for the entire event is her real mother's sister.""
I felt the world tilt beneath my feet.
"My real mother's sister?""
Vanessa lunged forward.
"She's confused! She's upset about the dresses!""
"Mom!"" Madison screamed.
"Stop!""
My father caught Vanessa by the wrist before she could grab Madison's arm.
"Let her finish.""
Vanessa yanked herself free.
"You are making a terrible mistake, Michael. You have no idea what you're encouraging.""
"Then explain it.""
She said nothing.
My father turned back to Madison.
"Who is this woman?""
Madison swallowed.
"Her name is Eleanor Brooks.""
The name meant nothing to me.
I had never heard it before.
But my father reacted as though someone had struck him.
He took a step backward.
"No.""
Vanessa's eyes widened.
"Michael—"
"No," he repeated, louder this time.
"That isn't possible.""
I looked between them.
"Dad? Who is Eleanor Brooks?""
He didn't answer immediately.
His fingers tightened around his phone.
Then he looked at Vanessa with an expression I had never seen before.
"You told me Claire had no living family.""
Vanessa's face went pale.
I felt a chill travel down my arms.
Claire.
My mother.
For eight years, I'd believed my mother had been an only child. Whenever I asked about her relatives, Dad told me that she'd grown up far away and lost touch with most of her family before we met.
Vanessa had always insisted there was nobody left to contact.
Now my father was telling me something different.
"What's going on?"" I demanded.
Vanessa straightened her shoulders.
"This is a private conversation between adults.""
"I'm your daughter," I said.
She turned on me.
"You're a child who has no idea what she's talking about.""
My father stepped forward so quickly that she fell silent.
"Never speak to Emily like that again.""
He took my hand and guided me toward the patio table.
"Sit down, sweetheart.""
I sat.
Madison lowered herself into the chair across from me.
Vanessa remained standing, breathing hard.
My father placed his phone on the table.
"Madison, how do you know about Eleanor?""
Madison stared at her hands.
"Mom received a letter a few weeks ago. It was from a woman who said she was Aunt Eleanor. She'd been trying to find Emily for years.""
"Why didn't you tell me?"" I asked.
Madison flinched.
"Because Mom told me not to.""
"Why?""
"She said Eleanor was dangerous. She said she wanted to destroy our family.""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"Because that's exactly what she wants.""
My father looked at her.
"Then why did you hide the letter?""
"Because you wouldn't understand!""
"Try me.""
Vanessa's hands shook as she reached for the back of a chair.
"Eleanor has money," she said.
"A great deal of it. She owns a chain of hotels and several commercial properties. She's spent years trying to find Claire's daughter because she believes she has a responsibility to her.""
My breath caught.
"Responsibility?""
Madison nodded slowly.
"The letter said Eleanor wanted to meet Emily before prom. She'd heard about the school fundraiser and wanted to attend. She was sponsoring the entire event.""
I stared at her.
"She wanted to meet me?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't anyone tell me?""
Madison's voice became almost inaudible.
"Because Mom was afraid you'd leave.""
Vanessa slammed her palm against the table.
"Enough!""
My father didn't even glance at her.
"Leave for where?""
Madison looked at me.
"With Eleanor. She said she'd help you apply to college, pay for your education, and make sure you had everything you needed.""
I felt sick.
All those years, I'd worked at the diner to pay for things Madison received without asking. I'd saved money for school supplies, skipped class trips, and pretended not to care when Vanessa said college was a luxury I couldn't afford.
And somewhere out there, my mother's sister had been looking for me.
"How long has she known where I live?"" I asked.
Madison hesitated.
"She doesn't. Not yet.""
My father leaned forward.
"Then how did she know about the prom?""
Madison glanced at Vanessa.
"Mom sent the invitation back.""
The words fell like stones.
My father went completely still.
"You did what?""
Vanessa lifted her chin.
"I was protecting this family.""
"From your stepdaughter's aunt?""
"From what she'd do to us!""
My father stood.
"You're going to tell me everything. Every letter, every phone call, every lie.""
Vanessa's eyes filled with furious tears.
"You have no idea what Eleanor is capable of.""
"Then tell me.""
She shook her head.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then my father's phone vibrated on the table.
An unknown number.
He answered, putting the call on speaker.
"Michael Brooks?"" a woman's voice asked.
My father stiffened.
"Who is this?""
"My name is Eleanor Brooks. I've been trying to reach your family for weeks.""
Vanessa grabbed the edge of the table.
"No," she whispered.
The woman continued.
"I believe my sister Claire's daughter is living with you. I've been told she's seventeen, and I have reason to believe she's being kept from me.""
My heart pounded so hard I could barely hear.
My father looked directly at me.
Then he spoke into the phone.
"You're right. Emily is here.""
A long silence followed.
When Eleanor spoke again, her voice had broken.
"Thank God. Michael, there's something you need to know about Claire's death.""
My father closed his eyes.
Vanessa stumbled backward.
May you like
And then Eleanor said the words that made my father grip the table with both hands.
"Your wife wasn't supposed to be anywhere near my sister the night she died.""
