Chapter 5 - THE BROTHER I NEVER KNEW
Nobody spoke.
I stared at the photograph.
The baby had dark hair.
The same dark eyes my father had.
“Who is he?”
Barbara sat down.
“His name was Daniel.”
“Was?”
“He died.”
“When?”
“Twenty-seven years ago.”
I looked at the photograph again.
“How?”
Barbara swallowed.
“An accident.”
Something about her answer bothered me.
“What kind of accident?”
She didn't respond.
Bradley stepped toward her.
“Mom, stop.”
I turned on him.
“You knew about Daniel.”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Since before we married.”
The room seemed to contract.
“So you knew my father had another child.”
“Yes.”
“And you never told me.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
I almost laughed.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
Mr. Harris remained silent beside me.
I looked at Barbara.
“Why did you care?”
She finally told me.
“My brother was Daniel's father.”
I stared.
“What?”
“Your father wasn't Daniel's biological father.”
The photograph suddenly made more sense.
Barbara explained that my father had raised Daniel after Barbara's brother died.
Daniel had been placed in my father's care.
For years, my father had supported him.
Then, when Daniel was nineteen, he disappeared.
The family was told he had died in a boating accident.
But Barbara had never believed it.
“What does this have to do with me?”
She looked at the bracelet.
“Your father left something for both of you.”
“Daniel's dead.”
“Yes.”
“Then what did he leave?”
Barbara looked toward Bradley.
“He left a son.”
My stomach dropped.
“What?”
A photograph appeared on the table.
A young man.
Late twenties.
Standing outside the manufacturing plant from my father's photograph.
I looked at Mr. Harris.
“Who is he?”
He answered quietly.
“Thomas Reed.”
The name meant nothing.
Barbara continued.
“Thomas is Daniel's son.”
I shook my head.
“So why was Bradley involved?”
Barbara looked at her son.
“Because I needed someone close to you.”
Bradley closed his eyes.
I stared at him.
“You were spying on me.”
“At first.”
“How?”
“I asked Bradley to learn where the trust documents were.”
My hands shook.
“And when he couldn't find them?”
“He stayed.”
I looked at Bradley.
“Because you fell in love with me?”
He nodded.
“Yes.”
“Or because you hoped I'd lead you to the money?”
He didn't answer.
I walked away.
Then something struck me.
“What happened to Thomas?”
Barbara looked down.
“He believes you stole what belonged to his father.”
“What?”
“Your father left the trust to you.”
“But Daniel's son—”
“He believes your father promised it to Daniel.”
Mr. Harris interrupted.
“That isn't what the documents say.”
Barbara looked at him.
“You've seen them?”
“Yes.”
“Then you know.”
“I know the trust was established for Maddie.”
Barbara's expression hardened.
“Not entirely.”
She pulled out another paper.
It was an old handwritten agreement.
My father's signature appeared at the bottom.
The document stated that a portion of the trust would transfer to Daniel's descendants.
I stared.
“Why didn't I know this?”
“Because the transfer required Daniel's death certificate.”
“And?”
Barbara shook her head.
“We never had one.”
I looked up.
“What do you mean?”
“Because Daniel may not have died.”
The room went silent.
Mr. Harris stepped closer.
“Are you saying the boating accident was never confirmed?”
Barbara nodded.
“No body was recovered.”
I felt dizzy.
“Then where is he?”
Barbara's voice dropped.
“We don't know.”
A car door slammed outside.
Everyone turned.
A man stood beyond the glass doors.
He was holding an old photograph.
Bradley stared at him.
His face went pale.
“Thomas.”
The young man looked directly at me.
Then he raised the photograph.
It showed my father.
And beside him stood a younger Barbara.
Thomas pointed toward the house.
Then he spoke through the glass.
“My father isn't dead.”
May you like
My heart stopped.
“And he wants his money back.”
