Chapter 6 - THE WOMAN WHO KNEW GRANDPA'S SECRET
For several seconds, I couldn't process what Mom had said.
Michael had a daughter.
A daughter Grandpa had apparently known about.
A daughter whose photograph had been hidden in the farmhouse.
A daughter born on my birthday.
I looked at Dad.
“Where is she?”
He didn't answer.
“Dad.”
“I don't know.”
Mom whispered,
“You do.”
He turned toward her.
“Margaret.”
“You always knew.”
Dad's jaw tightened.
“I knew where she was when she was a child.”
I stared at him.
“And?”
“I lost track of her.”
“How?”
He looked at the floor.
“Your grandfather found her.”
My heart pounded.
“He found Michael's daughter?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“After Michael disappeared.”
“Why didn't he tell me?”
“Because you were a child.”
“That doesn't answer the question.”
Dad closed his eyes.
“Because he believed telling you would put you in danger.”
I looked at the photograph again.
The baby had a tiny bracelet.
A blue one.
Just like mine.
I turned the photograph over.
There was an address.
Savannah, Georgia.
And beneath it, a woman's name.
Claire Bennett.
I knew that name.
Not personally.
But I'd seen it.
On an old envelope in Grandpa's desk.
I remembered asking him once.
He'd said she was “someone from a long time ago.”
I suddenly understood.
“She was Michael's daughter.”
Mom nodded.
“Claire grew up believing her father abandoned her.”
I felt sick.
“Did Michael know she existed?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Rebecca told him.”
“And Grandpa?”
“Your grandfather tried to reunite them.”
“Did he?”
Mom shook her head.
“Not before Michael disappeared.”
I picked up the photograph.
“What happened to Claire?”
Dad answered.
“She became a nurse.”
“Where?”
“Last I heard, Georgia.”
“Why didn't Grandpa leave her the farmhouse?”
Dad looked at me.
“Because the farmhouse wasn't for Claire.”
I frowned.
“Then why?”
“Because Michael asked him to protect you.”
My heart stopped.
“Why would Michael care about me?”
Dad gave me a broken smile.
“Because you were the baby he believed would carry the family forward.”
I sat down.
The story I had known about my childhood was dissolving.
My father hadn't merely hidden a brother.
He had hidden an entire branch of our family.
Then my phone rang.
The number was unfamiliar.
I answered.
“Hello?”
A woman's voice said,
“Is this Evelyn Carter?”
“Yes.”
“My name is Claire Bennett.”
I couldn't breathe.
She continued.
“I believe you're holding my father's photograph.”
I looked at Mom.
“How do you know?”
“Because your grandfather mailed me a copy thirty years ago.”
“Why didn't you contact me?”
There was a pause.
“Because he asked me not to.”
“Why?”
“Because he said your father would destroy anything that could connect us.”
Dad stood abruptly.
“Hang up.”
Claire heard him.
Her voice changed.
“Is Robert there?”
“Yes.”
“Then he should listen.”
Dad froze.
Claire continued.
“Your father didn't just put Michael on that train.”
I stared at Dad.
“He followed him.”
Dad's face went gray.
“That's a lie.”
Claire said,
“My father told me.”
“You knew Michael?”
“No.”
She paused.
“My mother did.”
“Rebecca?”
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
Claire's voice softened.
“She died believing Michael was alive.”
My chest tightened.
“Was he?”
“I don't know.”
“Then what do you know?”
Claire breathed slowly.
“I know your grandfather received letters from him.”
My pulse jumped.
“What letters?”
“Letters dated years after the train ride.”
Dad moved toward me.
“Don't listen to her.”
Claire heard him again.
“Robert, you know exactly what those letters said.”
Dad's eyes closed.
I whispered,
“What did they say?”
Claire answered.
“They said Michael didn't leave because he was afraid of your father.”
I waited.
“He left because he had discovered what your father had done with your grandfather's money.”
I looked at the ledger.
“Why did he stay gone?”
“Because someone threatened his daughter.”
My blood turned cold.
“Who?”
Claire's voice trembled.
“I don't know.”
Then she added,
“But I know what your grandfather did.”
“What?”
“He changed the farmhouse deed because he believed the person threatening Michael would eventually come for the property.”
I looked at Dad.
“Why the property?”
“Because the farmhouse contained the original ledger.”
I glanced toward the wooden chest.
“It's here.”
Claire went silent.
“What?”
“The ledger is here.”
Her breathing changed.
“Then you're in danger.”
Dad suddenly grabbed my wrist.
I pulled away.
“Don't touch me.”
He stared at me.
“I wasn't trying to hurt you.”
“What were you trying to do?”
His eyes moved toward the window.
“Protect you.”
“From whom?”
Before he could answer, Claire said,
“Evelyn, listen carefully.”
I held the phone closer.
“My father didn't leave the farmhouse to you because you were his favorite grandchild.”
I waited.
“He left it to you because you were the only person he trusted to finish what he started.”
The line went silent.
Then Claire whispered,
“Find the second ledger.”
My heart stopped.
“What second ledger?”
May you like
Claire answered,
“The one your father has spent thirty-six years pretending never existed.”
