Chapter 7: The Truth About My Mother's Last Days
I couldn't stop staring at the medical report.
My mother had died when I was seven.
For years, I had believed she had lost her battle with a serious illness.
Dad had told me she had become weaker over several months. Eventually, her body couldn't fight anymore.
It was the only explanation I had ever received.
Now I was looking at a document suggesting that she had suspected something else.
"Uncle Daniel," I whispered.
"What does this mean?""
Daniel carefully placed the report on the bed.
"It means your mother was concerned about something in her treatment.""
Dad shook his head.
"She was very ill. The doctors were trying different medications.""
"She told me she felt worse after taking something Vanessa brought her.""
Dad looked at him sharply.
"Vanessa brought her medication?""
Daniel nodded.
"Sometimes. You were working long hours, remember?""
Dad sat down.
"I thought everything was being handled by the nurses.""
"Not every appointment.""
I looked between them.
"Are you saying Vanessa hurt my mother?""
Daniel shook his head.
"I'm saying we need evidence before accusing anyone.""
I picked up the report.
There was a second page attached.
It contained the name of a pharmacy and several prescription records.
One medication had been highlighted.
Beside it was a handwritten question:
Why was this prescribed when the specialist specifically advised against it?
Dad pressed his fingers against his forehead.
"I never saw this.""
Daniel looked at him.
"That's the problem.""
We took photographs of every page and contacted Margaret.
She advised us not to move anything else until an investigator could examine the documents.
By late afternoon, we were back at the cottage.
The sky had darkened.
I stood near the kitchen window, watching waves crash against the rocks.
My phone vibrated.
It was Mia.
Where are you?
I ignored it.
Another message appeared.
Mom says you're making Dad crazy.
Then:
Please come home. Something is happening.
I frowned.
I called her.
She answered immediately.
"Aaliyah?""
"What happened?""
Her voice was shaky.
"Mom is packing.""
"Packing what?""
"Her clothes. Dad told her she might need to stay somewhere else until the investigation is finished.""
I closed my eyes.
"Is she angry?""
Mia laughed nervously.
"She's furious. She threw your graduation cap into the hallway.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why?""
"She said she never wanted to see anything connected to your mother again.""
I looked at the cottage.
"Where is she going?""
"I don't know.""
Then Mia whispered something.
"There's something I need to tell you.""
I straightened.
"What?""
"Mom knew about the dress.""
I froze.
"What do you mean?""
"She knew I cut it.""
My throat tightened.
"She was standing right there when I showed her the scissors.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"She knew before I came home?""
"Yes.""
"Did she tell you to do it?""
Mia went quiet.
Then she said, "Not exactly.""
"What does that mean?""
"She told me that if you showed up looking perfect at graduation, Dad would start asking questions about the money again. She said you needed a reason to stay home.""
I couldn't speak.
Mia began crying.
"I thought she was just trying to upset you. I didn't think Dad would find the documents.""
I gripped the phone.
"You destroyed something I worked six months for because your mother was afraid of a graduation ceremony?""
"I know.""
"No, Mia. You don't.""
She sobbed.
"Mom said Dad would always choose me if you weren't there. She said your graduation was going to make him realize how much money he had spent on you.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did you believe her?""
Mia didn't answer.
That was enough.
After the call, I told Daniel and Dad everything.
Dad looked devastated.
"She involved Mia in this?""
Daniel shook his head.
"Vanessa has been controlling the situation for years.""
Dad stood.
"I need to go home.""
Daniel stopped him.
"Wait. Margaret needs to know about the medication report.""
"I can't sit here while she's destroying everything.""
I looked at him.
"Then don't go alone.""
We drove back that evening.
When we entered the house, Vanessa was gone.
Her bedroom closet was half empty.
Mia sat on the living room floor surrounded by photographs and old papers.
She looked up.
"You're back.""
Dad put down his keys.
"Where is Vanessa?""
"She left.""
"Where?""
"She said she needed to speak to Richard.""
Dad exchanged a look with Daniel.
I walked toward Mia.
"Why are you sitting here?""
She held up a photograph.
It showed my mother holding me in the hospital.
"Mom said I should throw these away.""
I looked at the picture.
"Why didn't you?""
Mia shrugged.
"I don't know.""
She wiped her face.
"I always hated how Dad talked about your mother.""
I sat beside her.
"Why?""
"Because whenever he looked at you, I felt like I wasn't enough.""
I didn't know what to say.
Mia continued.
"Mom told me your mother had left money for you because she didn't trust our family. She said you were going to inherit everything and leave me with nothing.""
I looked at her.
"That wasn't true.""
"I know that now.""
She picked up another photograph.
"She said if I made you look bad, Dad would stop paying attention to you.""
I felt a wave of anger.
"You could have told me.""
Mia looked at me.
"You wouldn't have believed me.""
I stared at her.
She was probably right.
For years, I had assumed Mia was simply spoiled and cruel.
I hadn't realized how deliberately Vanessa had encouraged the rivalry between us.
But understanding why Mia had behaved that way didn't erase what she had done.
"You still chose to cut my dress.""
Her eyes filled.
"I know.""
Dad approached us.
"Mia, I need to ask you something.""
She looked up.
"Did your mother ever ask you to take anything from Aaliyah's room?""
Mia hesitated.
Then she nodded.
"What?""
"Documents. A small envelope. She told me it was just old paperwork.""
"When?""
"Last month.""
Dad's face hardened.
"Where is it?""
Mia looked toward the staircase.
"I don't know. She gave it to Richard.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Richard Cole?""
Mia nodded.
"Mom said he was going to make everything disappear.""
Dad immediately called Margaret.
She told him to report the missing documents and preserve any messages or communications with Vanessa.
As he spoke, I noticed something on the floor near Mia.
A small piece of paper had fallen from the photograph album.
I picked it up.
It was a receipt.
The date was from the week before my mother died.
The pharmacy name matched the one on the medical report.
But the name printed under the purchaser was not Vanessa's.
It was Richard Cole's.
I handed it to Dad.
He stared at it.
"Why would a lawyer purchase your mother's medication?""
Daniel examined the receipt.
"Maybe he was helping with her care.""
"Or maybe he was involved in something else," Dad replied.
Then Mia spoke.
"There's something else.""
We turned.
She was holding her phone.
"Mom sent me a message before she left.""
She unlocked it and showed us.
The message read:
If anyone asks about the blue box, tell them Aaliyah took it before we could secure it.
I looked at her.
"Why would she say that?""
Mia swallowed.
"Because she told me the box contained something that could send someone to prison.""
Dad took the phone.
"Who?""
Mia looked toward the front door.
"I think she meant herself.""
At that moment, Dad's phone rang.
Margaret.
He answered.
"Hello?""
Her voice was urgent.
"David, I need you to listen carefully. We just received confirmation from the pharmacy.""
Dad stood.
"What confirmation?""
"The prescription records show that the medication your wife received was altered after the original doctor signed the order.""
Daniel went pale.
Margaret continued.
"And the person who authorized the alteration wasn't Vanessa.""
Dad looked at me.
"Who was it?""
There was a pause.
May you like
Then Margaret said a name.
"Richard Cole.""
