Chapter 4: The Secret My Mother Buried
The front door closed behind Rachel.
But I barely heard it.
My entire focus was on my mother.
"What happened the night Dad died?""
She didn't answer.
"Mom.""
She sat at the dining table, staring at the papers scattered in front of her.
Her hands were trembling.
"Daniel...""
I pulled out the chair across from her.
"Please.""
For a long moment, the only sound in the house was the ticking clock above the fireplace.
Then my mother whispered,
"Your father didn't tell you everything before he passed.""
I felt a strange pressure in my chest.
"What does that mean?""
She looked up.
"It means I spent years trying to protect you.""
"Protect me from what?""
She looked toward the window.
"The truth.""
I hated those words.
Because every time someone said them, it meant there was something I was about to learn that would change everything.
"Mom, I need you to stop protecting me.""
Her eyes filled.
"I don't know how.""
"You've been doing it my whole life.""
She gave a sad smile.
"Exactly.""
I waited.
Finally, she reached for the envelope again and pulled out another document.
"This is why I met with the lawyer.""
I looked down.
It wasn't about money.
It wasn't about the house.
It was a letter.
An old letter.
The paper was yellowed at the edges.
"What's this?""
"Something your father wrote.""
I stared at her.
"Dad wrote that?""
She nodded.
"He told the lawyer to give it to me only when I was ready.""
"When was that?""
"When I knew I couldn't keep pretending anymore.""
I opened it carefully.
The handwriting was unmistakably my father's.
Daniel,
If you are reading this, something has happened that forced your mother to finally tell you the truth.
I stopped.
My throat tightened.
I continued reading.
Your mother will try to protect everyone, even people who hurt her. That is who she is. But there is something you need to know about our family.
I looked at Mom.
She was crying silently.
"What family secret?""
She closed her eyes.
"Your father knew.""
"Knew what?""
"About Rachel.""
My heart stopped.
"Rachel?""
Mom nodded.
"He didn't trust her.""
I immediately stood.
"No.""
"Daniel.""
"No.""
I pushed the letter down.
"Mom, Dad died before Rachel and I even got married.""
"I know.""
"Then how could he know?""
She looked at me.
"Because he met her.""
I felt dizzy.
"When?""
"Before your wedding.""
My mind raced back.
My father had been sick during that time.
Quiet.
Different.
I remembered him asking me strange questions.
Was I sure?
Was I rushing?
Did I truly know the person I was marrying?
I thought he was just worried because he was dying.
"Why didn't he tell me?""
Mom looked devastated.
"Because he loved you.""
"That doesn't make sense.""
"He was afraid you'd choose her and never forgive him.""
I walked away from the table.
The walls suddenly felt too close.
"So Dad knew something about Rachel?""
"Yes.""
"What?""
Mom hesitated.
And that hesitation terrified me.
"Mom.""
She reached for my hand.
"Your father discovered Rachel had been hiding debt before your wedding.""
I stared at her.
"Debt?""
"Thousands of dollars.""
"Why didn't anyone tell me?""
"Because Rachel convinced him she had changed.""
I shook my head.
"No.""
"Daniel.""
"No. Rachel isn't perfect, but this...""
My mother looked at me sadly.
"Your father thought she loved you.""
The sentence hurt because it sounded like a warning.
Not an accusation.
I picked up the letter again.
The last line was still visible.
Before I could finish reading, my phone rang.
I looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
Then my mother saw the number.
And her entire expression changed.
"Don't answer that.""
I looked at her.
"Why?""
She stood suddenly.
"Because that's the number your father told me never to call.""
The phone kept ringing.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
I stared at the screen.
Then I answered.
"Hello?""
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then a woman's voice whispered,
"Daniel Carter?""
"Yes.""
A pause.
Then the woman said something that made my blood turn cold.
"I'm the reason your father was afraid to tell you the truth.""
I gripped the phone tighter.
"Who are you?""
The woman took a shaky breath.
May you like
And replied,
"I'm Rachel's mother.""
