Chapter 6: The Man Who Claimed to Be My Father
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
My father had been dead for six years.
I had stood beside his hospital bed when his heart stopped. I had chosen his casket, signed his death certificate, and watched them lower him into the ground.
There was no possibility that the man at Ava's school was him.
But someone was using his name.
"Sir," I said into the phone, forcing my voice to remain steady, "do not release Ava to anyone. Do you understand?""
Principal Williams sounded uncomfortable.
"Your sister has presented legal paperwork. She says there's an emergency involving the children's family trust.""
"That paperwork is fraudulent.""
"She also has a gentleman here claiming to be the children's grandfather.""
"Keep Ava inside. I'm coming.""
I hung up.
Margaret Ellis was already reaching for her coat.
"Claire, don't go alone.""
Rebecca grabbed her car keys.
"I'll drive.""
I turned toward Margaret.
"Who could possibly claim to be my father's replacement?""
Margaret's face had gone pale.
"There is one person.""
"Who?""
She hesitated.
"Your father's older brother.""
I stared at her.
"My father never had a brother.""
"Not one he acknowledged.""
The words landed like a slap.
Margaret explained as we hurried outside.
My father, Richard Montgomery, had grown up in a wealthy family. His parents had owned several properties and operated a construction company. But when he was twenty-three, he discovered that his father had been hiding money from the family business.
Richard confronted him.
The argument ended with my father leaving home and refusing to speak to his family again.
His older brother, Thomas, had remained.
"He was already married when your father left," Margaret explained.
"He had a son named Daniel.""
I stopped walking.
"Daniel Mercer?""
She nodded.
"Your sister's boyfriend?""
"Yes.""
For a moment, the world seemed to move in slow motion.
Daniel wasn't just Megan's boyfriend.
He was my father's nephew.
And the man claiming to be my father's replacement was his father.
Thomas Montgomery.
My father's estranged older brother.
"Why would he suddenly appear now?""
Margaret looked at me.
"Because of the inheritance.""
Rebecca opened the passenger door.
"Get in. We need to reach that school.""
Twenty minutes later, we pulled into the parking lot of Westbrook Elementary.
A black SUV stood outside the main entrance.
Daniel was leaning against it.
Beside him stood an older man wearing a charcoal suit and polished brown shoes.
He had silver hair, a narrow face, and the same deep-set eyes as my father.
For one terrible second, I understood why the principal might have believed him.
The resemblance was unmistakable.
Daniel spotted me.
He straightened and adjusted his expensive watch.
"Well," he said, "look who finally decided to show up.""
I walked past him.
"Where is Ava?""
"Inside.""
"Then move.""
Daniel laughed.
"You always were dramatic, Claire.""
I turned.
"One more word, and I'll have the police remove you.""
The older man stepped forward.
"That's no way to speak to family.""
I looked directly at him.
"Who are you?""
He extended his hand.
"Thomas Montgomery. Your father's brother.""
I didn't take it.
"My father never mentioned you.""
"Richard had a talent for holding grudges.""
Margaret stepped beside me.
"Thomas, you have no legal authority over these children.""
His eyes narrowed.
"Margaret. Still interfering in matters that don't concern you?""
"They concern me when you arrive at a school with forged documents.""
Thomas smiled thinly.
"These documents are legitimate.""
He handed me a folder.
I opened it.
Inside was a notarized declaration naming Thomas as the children's emergency family representative.
There were copies of my father's will, Megan's guardianship statement, and a document claiming that I had voluntarily surrendered my right to make decisions concerning the children.
My signature appeared at the bottom.
Again.
I looked at the notary stamp.
The date was three days earlier.
"Who notarized this?""
Daniel answered.
"A family attorney.""
"Name?""
"Why does it matter?""
"Because I'll be reporting them.""
Thomas reached for the folder.
"You need to calm down, young lady.""
I pulled it away.
"Don't touch me.""
His expression hardened.
"You have no idea what your father left behind. You think a house and a few savings accounts make you wealthy? Your father was part of something much bigger.""
Margaret's voice turned cold.
"Thomas, stop.""
But he continued.
"Your father stole opportunities that belonged to our family. He walked away with property, investments, and the trust. He spent decades pretending he was an ordinary man.""
I looked at him.
"Is that why you're here? To punish his daughters?""
Thomas smiled.
"I'm here to correct an injustice.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"Claire, listen. Nobody wants to hurt the children. We simply need you to cooperate.""
"Cooperate with what?""
"Let Thomas take temporary control of the family trust. Megan gets to make her own decisions about the baby, and you continue looking after the other four.""
I stared at him.
"You want me to raise five children while you take control of three million dollars?""
Daniel shrugged.
"That's a crude way of putting it.""
"It's an accurate way of putting it.""
He leaned toward me.
"Think about Ava. She's old enough to understand what's happening. Do you really want her to grow up knowing you destroyed her family over money?""
I stepped closer.
"Don't you dare use that little girl to threaten me.""
The school doors opened.
Principal Williams appeared.
"Ava is waiting in my office.""
I hurried inside.
Ava was sitting on a chair with her backpack in her lap.
Her face was pale.
When she saw me, she jumped up.
"Aunt Claire!""
She ran into my arms.
I held her tightly.
"Are you okay?""
She nodded against my shoulder.
"Mom said I had to go with them.""
"Did she say why?""
Ava looked toward the office door.
"She said Grandpa was coming to take us home.""
I gently brushed her hair away from her face.
"That man isn't your grandfather.""
Ava looked confused.
"But he said he was.""
"Your real family is complicated, sweetheart. But nobody is taking you anywhere without making sure you're safe.""
She hesitated.
Then she whispered something that made my stomach turn.
"Aunt Claire, I know that man.""
I pulled back.
"Which man?""
"Daniel.""
"I know.""
"No. I mean I knew him before Mom started dating him.""
I stared at her.
"What do you mean?""
Ava lowered her voice.
"He used to come to our apartment when I was little. He would bring Mom envelopes. Sometimes Grandpa came with him.""
I crouched.
"What did he call your mother?""
Ava swallowed.
"His daughter.""
My blood turned cold.
I looked toward the hallway.
Thomas was still standing outside with Daniel.
If Ava was telling the truth, then the man my sister had been dating was not simply her boyfriend.
He was connected to her through a family relationship.
And there was only one explanation that made sense.
I turned toward the office door.
Margaret entered a moment later.
I looked at her.
"Tell me the truth. Is Daniel Megan's brother?""
Margaret didn't answer immediately.
Her silence was enough.
Then she said:
"Yes.""
I felt sick.
Ava gripped my hand.
"Does that mean something bad happened?""
I pulled her close.
"No, sweetheart. It means some adults have been telling terrible lies.""
Outside, Daniel was shouting at Thomas.
And for the first time, I realized that the family secret wasn't simply about inheritance.
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It was about why Megan had chosen Daniel in the first place.
And why Thomas was so desperate to get control of the unborn baby.
