Chapter 6: The Mother Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Nobody breathed.
For several seconds, the entire world felt frozen.
My father held the phone against his ear.
His face had lost all color.
“Where are you?””
A pause.
Then his eyes moved toward me.
“I understand.””
He ended the call.
I stared at him.
“What did you just say?””
He didn’t answer.
“Dad.””
His hands shook.
“Emily…”
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“Don’t say my name like that.””
The room was spinning.
“My mother is dead.””
Everyone had told me.
The doctors.
The police.
My father.
Dead.
For fifteen years.
Dad looked like he was searching for the right words.
“I thought she was.””
I felt anger rising.
“You thought?””
Clara quietly stepped forward.
“Emily…”
I turned toward her.
“You knew something.””
She looked down.
“I knew your mother might have survived.””
The words hit harder than anything else.
“Might have?””
My voice cracked.
“How could everyone let me believe she was gone?””
Nobody answered.
Then Vanessa laughed.
A broken laugh.
Everyone looked at her.
“You really don’t know, do you?””
Dad turned.
“Stop.””
“No.””
Vanessa wiped her eyes.
“You want the truth? Fine.””
She looked at me.
“Your mother didn’t die in that crash.””
My hands started shaking.
“Then what happened?””
Vanessa looked at my father.
“He helped her disappear.””
My father’s face changed.
“Don’t.””
I stepped back.
“You did what?””
Dad immediately shook his head.
“No.””
Vanessa continued.
“Your mother found out something terrible.””
“What?””
“She found out your father was involved.””
The silence was unbearable.
I looked at Dad.
“Is that true?””
“No.””
The answer came quickly.
Too quickly.
I stared at him.
“Then explain.””
He looked away.
And that was enough.
I walked toward the stairs.
“I need to be alone.””
“Emily.””
I stopped.
My father’s voice broke.
“I never wanted you to know this way.””
I turned around.
“Know what?””
He swallowed.
“That your mother asked me for help.””
I waited.
“She was afraid.””
“Of who?””
His eyes moved toward Vanessa.
Then back to me.
“Of someone inside this family.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You’re going to blame me now?””
Dad ignored her.
“Your mother disappeared because she thought someone wanted her dead.””
I whispered:
“And you helped her?””
“Yes.””
My heart hurt.
“Then why did you tell me she died?””
His face collapsed.
“Because the person hunting her found me.””
The room went quiet.
“What?””
Dad walked closer.
“I received threats.””
“When?””
“After she disappeared.””
“And you still didn’t tell me?””
“I was trying to protect you.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
A knock suddenly echoed from the front door.
Everyone turned.
Another knock.
Harder.
My father looked terrified.
“Who is that?””
Nobody answered.
Then a voice came from outside.
A woman’s voice.
“David.””
My father froze.
The voice continued.
“Open the door.””
I felt my heartbeat stop.
Because I knew that voice.
I had heard it before.
In old home videos.
In recordings Dad thought I never found.
My mother.
Vanessa backed away.
“No…”
The doorknob slowly turned.
And when the door opened, the woman standing there was holding the same photograph Clara had brought earlier.
Except this time, I could see the face clearly.
My mother looked directly at me.
And the first words she said were:
“Emily, I’m sorry I let you believe I was dead.””
Then she looked past me.
May you like
Straight at Vanessa.
“And I’m sorry you had to find out this way who really tried to kill me.””
