Chapter 7: The Secret Patricia Buried
The message stayed on my screen.
Ask Patricia what happened after your mother died.
I read it again.
And again.
Every time, the same question appeared in my mind.
What happened after my mother died?
I had spent years believing I knew that story.
My mother got sick.
She fought.
She lost.
My father and I were left behind.
That was the version I had grown up with.
But now I knew my family had a talent for keeping things hidden.
I looked at Patricia.
She looked like someone who had just watched a locked door swing open.
“Patricia,” I said quietly.
She didn’t answer.
“After my mother died… what happened?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Emily…”
“No.””
My voice became firmer.
“I’m done protecting everyone’s feelings except my own.””
My father moved closer.
“Emily, maybe we should do this another time.””
I turned toward him.
“Another time?””
I almost laughed.
“Dad, my entire life has been another time.””
He stopped.
Nobody argued.
Because there was nothing left to say.
Patricia slowly sat at the kitchen table.
Her hands trembled.
“After your mother died, Daniel came back.””
The room became cold.
“Back?””
She nodded.
“Yes.””
My father’s face hardened.
“He had no right.””
I looked at him.
“What did he want?””
Patricia looked at me.
“You.””
The word made my stomach twist.
“Me?””
“He said he had changed. He said he regretted leaving.””
I stared at her.
“And did he?””
She looked away.
“I don’t know.””
My father scoffed.
“I know.””
Patricia looked at him.
“You weren’t there.””
“I was there when he threatened to take her.””
“And I was there when he cried outside your house.””
My father went silent.
I looked between them.
“You two saw him?””
Patricia nodded.
“Years after your mother died.””
“When?””
She hesitated.
“Three months later.””
My heart sank.
Three months.
I remembered that time.
I remembered my father barely sleeping.
I remembered eating cereal for dinner because he forgot to cook.
I remembered sitting in my bedroom, holding my mother’s old sweater because I couldn’t understand why she was gone.
And somewhere during those months…
Daniel had returned.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
My father looked devastated.
“Because you were a child.””
“I was twelve.””
“You had just lost your mother.””
“So you decided I couldn’t handle the truth?””
He looked down.
“Yes.””
I shook my head.
“You all keep making choices for me.””
Patricia wiped her eyes.
“There’s more.””
I stared at her.
Of course there was.
There was always more.
“Daniel didn’t just come back.””
“What else?””
“He brought proof.””
My father immediately stood.
“Patricia.””
“No.””
She looked at him.
“She deserves to know.””
I watched my father’s face.
Fear.
Not anger.
Fear.
“What proof?””
Patricia took a breath.
“He had a letter from your mother.””
My heart stopped.
“My mother?””
“Yes.””
“What kind of letter?””
“One that was written before she died.””
I felt dizzy.
“Where is it?””
Patricia looked toward the hallway.
“I don’t know.””
“You don’t know?””
She shook her head.
“The last time I saw it was in Robert’s office.””
I looked at my father.
“Do you have it?””
He didn’t answer.
That was enough.
“Dad.””
His shoulders dropped.
“I did.””
“Did?””
He looked away.
“I destroyed it.””
The silence that followed felt endless.
“You destroyed a letter from my mother?””
“I thought I was protecting you.””
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
My voice cracked.
“But nobody ever asks what I wanted.””
My father looked like I had hit him.
Maybe because he knew I was right.
Then Madison, who had been silent for almost an hour, spoke.
“I know where the letter is.””
Everyone turned.
Patricia stared at her.
“Madison.””
“What?””
Her voice was shaky.
“You all keep acting like I’m a child who doesn’t understand anything.””
She looked at me.
“I found it years ago.””
My father stepped forward.
“Where?””
Madison swallowed.
“In Mom’s closet.””
Patricia looked horrified.
“You went through my things?””
“You went through Emily’s whole life.””
The words shocked everyone.
Madison looked at me.
“I was thirteen.””
I watched her carefully.
For the first time, I didn’t see the girl who destroyed my dress.
I saw someone who had been carrying a secret.
“What did the letter say?””
Madison’s eyes filled.
“I don’t know.””
“What do you mean?””
“I couldn’t read all of it.””
“Why?””
She looked at Patricia.
“Because Mom caught me.””
Patricia closed her eyes.
“What did you do with it?””
Madison whispered:
“Mom took it away.””
A sound came from upstairs.
A door opening.
Everyone looked toward the hallway.
Nobody had gone upstairs.
Nobody except—
My father’s face changed.
“Madison.””
She looked confused.
“What?””
He pointed.
“The old closet.””
We all stared.
Then we heard footsteps.
Slow footsteps.
May you like
Coming down the stairs.
And someone was holding a yellow envelope.
