Chapter 7: My## Chapter 7: My Uncle's Three-Year Uncle's Three-Year Silence
My uncle arrived at our house the Silence
My uncle arrived at our house the next morning carrying a brown leather next morning carrying a brown leather briefcase and the expression of a man who had spent three years rehears briefcase and the expression of a man who had spent three years rehearsing an apology he was terrified to deliver.
I recognizeding an apology he was terrified to deliver.
I recognized him before Dad opened the door.
Daniel Brooks had my mother's eyes. him before Dad opened the door.
Daniel Brooks had my mother's eyes. The same deep brown, the same small crease between his The same deep brown, the same small crease between his eyebrows whenever he worried about something. When I was little, he used to swing me onto his shoulders and pretend eyebrows whenever he worried about something. When I was little, he used to swing me onto his shoulders and pretend I was a queen inspecting her kingdom.
After my mother died, he had visited I was a queen inspecting her kingdom.
After my mother died, he had visited less often.
Vanessa said he was busy.
Dad said Daniel needed time to grieve.
I had accepted less often.
Vanessa said he was busy.
Dad said Daniel needed time to grieve.
I had accepted both explanations because I was ten years old, and adults always seemed to know things both explanations because I was ten years old, and adults always seemed to know things I didn't.
Now I understood that sometimes adults simply agreed I didn't.
Now I understood that sometimes adults simply agreed to keep secrets.
Daniel stood in the doorway.
“Marcus.””
“Come to keep secrets.
Daniel stood in the doorway.
“Marcus.””
“Come in.””
His gaze moved past Dad and landed on me.
“M in.””
His gaze moved past Dad and landed on me.
“Maya.””
I waited for him to hug me.
He didn't.
Instead, heaya.””
I waited for him to hug me.
He didn't.
Instead, he placed the briefcase on the entryway table and knelt in front of me.
placed the briefcase on the entryway table and knelt in front of me.
“Your mother would be proud of you,” he said.
I stepped backward“Your mother would be proud of you,” he said.
I stepped backward.
“Then why didn't you come see me?””
The.
“Then why didn't you come see me?””
The question struck him harder than I expected.
He looked down.
“I deserved that.””
“No, you didn't,” I question struck him harder than I expected.
He looked down.
“I deserved that.””
“No, you didn't,” I replied.
“You deserved to answer me.””
Dad closed the front door quietly replied.
“You deserved to answer me.””
Dad closed the front door quietly.
“Daniel, we found Rebecca's letter. We found the trust.
“Daniel, we found Rebecca's letter. We found the trust documents. We also found the box beneath the old apple tree.””
Daniel's documents. We also found the box beneath the old apple tree.””
Daniel's face lost its color.
“You found the box?””
“Yes.””
face lost its color.
“You found the box?””
“Yes.””
“Did you open it?””
“No. Evelyn has it secured.””
Daniel released a breath“Did you open it?””
“No. Evelyn has it secured.””
Daniel released a breath.
“Good.””
I stared at him.
“You.
“Good.””
I stared at him.
“You knew about the box?””
He closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
The room seemed to grow smaller.
Dad's knew about the box?””
He closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
The room seemed to grow smaller.
Dad's voice hardened.
“Start talking.””
Daniel sat on the sofa, his elbows resting on his voice hardened.
“Start talking.””
Daniel sat on the sofa, his elbows resting on his knees.
For a moment, he looked like the uncle I remembered, the one who used to help me build cardboard castles at the kitchen table.
knees.
For a moment, he looked like the uncle I remembered, the one who used to help me build cardboard castles at the kitchen table.
Then he began to speak.
“Six weeks before Rebecca died, she called me. She was frightenedThen he began to speak.
“Six weeks before Rebecca died, she called me. She was frightened because someone had been asking questions about her finances. She suspected that documents because someone had been asking questions about her finances. She suspected that documents connected to Maya's trust had been copied.””
“Who?”” connected to Maya's trust had been copied.””
“Who?”” Dad asked.
“She didn't know for certain. But she told me she had discovered Dad asked.
“She didn't know for certain. But she told me she had discovered that someone had tried to obtain access to the account that someone had tried to obtain access to the account using information from your household records.””
Dad stared at him.
using information from your household records.””
Dad stared at him.
“Why didn't she tell me?””
“She wanted proof before she accused“Why didn't she tell me?””
“She wanted proof before she accused anyone. She said you were under enormous pressure at work, and she didn't want to cause anyone. She said you were under enormous pressure at work, and she didn't want to cause a confrontation that might affect Maya.””
Daniel opened a confrontation that might affect Maya.””
Daniel opened his briefcase.
Inside were copies of bank statements, several envelopes, and a photograph of my his briefcase.
Inside were copies of bank statements, several envelopes, and a photograph of my mother standing outside a courthouse.
“She gave me these documents shortly before the accident,” mother standing outside a courthouse.
“She gave me these documents shortly before the accident,” he continued.
“She asked me to keep them safe and contact Evelyn if anything happened to her.””
he continued.
“She asked me to keep them safe and contact Evelyn if anything happened to her.””
Dad leaned forward.
“What happened the night she died?””
Daniel rubbed his palmsDad leaned forward.
“What happened the night she died?””
Daniel rubbed his palms against his trousers.
“She called me at 8:17 p.m. She said she against his trousers.
“She called me at 8:17 p.m. She said she had found the original authorization form and wanted to meet me the next morning. She also said she was had found the original authorization form and wanted to meet me the next morning. She also said she was going to confront the person who had been trying to access Maya's money going to confront the person who had been trying to access Maya's money.””
“Was that person Vanessa?”” I asked.
Daniel looked at me.
“I.””
“Was that person Vanessa?”” I asked.
Daniel looked at me.
“I believe it was.””
“Then why didn't you tell the police?””
His mouth tightened.
“Because believe it was.””
“Then why didn't you tell the police?””
His mouth tightened.
“Because I didn't know whether the financial problem had I didn't know whether the financial problem had anything to do with the accident. I was afraid of making a false accusation.””
“That doesn't explain anything to do with the accident. I was afraid of making a false accusation.””
“That doesn't explain three years,” Dad said.
Daniel looked at him.
“No. It doesn't.””
He took three years,” Dad said.
Daniel looked at him.
“No. It doesn't.””
He took another document from the briefcase.
“This came to me two days another document from the briefcase.
“This came to me two days after the funeral.””
Dad took it.
It was a photocopy of a letter after the funeral.””
Dad took it.
It was a photocopy of a letter addressed to Daniel, supposedly written by Vanessa.
The message was short.
* addressed to Daniel, supposedly written by Vanessa.
The message was short.
Rebecca's affairs have been settled. ThereRebecca's affairs have been settled. There is no reason to involve Maya in financial matters she cannot is no reason to involve Maya in financial matters she cannot understand. Please respect Marcus's decision to move forward.
Dad read understand. Please respect Marcus's decision to move forward.*
Dad read it twice.
“I never made that decision.””
“I know that now,” it twice.
“I never made that decision.””
“I know that now,” Daniel said.
“At the time, I thought you had agreed to let Daniel said.
“At the time, I thought you had agreed to let Vanessa handle everything.””
“You could have called me.””
“I should have.””
“You could have asked me Vanessa handle everything.””
“You could have called me.””
“I should have.””
“You could have asked me.””
“I should have.””
Dad stood and walked to the window.””
“I should have.””
Dad stood and walked to the window.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Daniel turned toward me.
“Your mother asked me.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Daniel turned toward me.
“Your mother asked me to protect you, Maya. I failed you. I let someone else's explanation to protect you, Maya.
I failed you. I let someone else's explanation become more important than the truth.””
I looked at him.
“ become more important than the truth.””
I looked at him.
“Did you know Vanessa was mean to me?””
He flinched.
“I knew youDid you know Vanessa was mean to me?””
He flinched.
“I knew you weren't happy.””
“That isn't what I asked.””
“No,” he whispered weren't happy.””
“That isn't what I asked.””
“No,” he whispered.
“I didn't know how bad it was.””
I wanted to forgive him.
But forgiveness felt.
“I didn't know how bad it was.””
I wanted to forgive him.
But forgiveness felt too large to offer someone who had barely noticed I needed too large to offer someone who had barely noticed I needed help.
“Why didn't you come to my birthday parties?”” I asked.
Daniel looked confused.
“I help.
“Why didn't you come to my birthday parties?”” I asked.
Daniel looked confused.
“I sent cards.””
“Vanessa said you didn't want to see me because sent cards.””
“Vanessa said you didn't want to see me because I reminded you of Mommy.””
His eyes filled with tears.
“She told you that?””
I I reminded you of Mommy.””
His eyes filled with tears.
“She told you that?””
I nodded.
He pressed his hand over his mouth.
“Oh, Maya.””
Dad nodded.
He pressed his hand over his mouth.
“Oh, Maya.””
Dad turned away from the window.
“Vanessa has been controlling the information we turned away from the window.
“Vanessa has been controlling the information we receive from everyone who might receive from everyone who might have helped Rebecca.””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“I think she knew Rebecca had told me something. have helped Rebecca.””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“I think she knew Rebecca had told me something. After the funeral, she called and said that if I pursued the matter, I could destroy what remained of Marcus's After the funeral, she called and said that if I pursued the matter, I could destroy what remained of Marcus's family.””
Dad stared at him.
“She threatened you?””
“She said family.””
Dad stared at him.
“She threatened you?””
“She said you were fragile. That Maya needed stability. That a you were fragile.
That Maya needed stability. That a public investigation would hurt you both.””
“And you believed her?””
Daniel lowered public investigation would hurt you both.””
“And you believed her?””
Daniel lowered his head.
“I believed that keeping quiet would prevent another tragedy.””
I looked at the floor his head.
“I believed that keeping quiet would prevent another tragedy.””
I looked at the floor.
“Being quiet didn't help me.””
“No,” Daniel said.
“It.
“Being quiet didn't help me.””
“No,” Daniel said.
“It didn't.””
He reached into his briefcase and removed a small envelope.
“This is the last didn't.””
He reached into his briefcase and removed a small envelope.
“This is the last thing Rebecca gave me. She told thing Rebecca gave me. She told me to keep it separate from the other documents.””
He handed it to Dad.
The envelope had my name written across the front.
me to keep it separate from the other documents.””
He handed it to Dad.
The envelope had my name written across the front.
Inside was a letter in my mother's handwriting.
DadInside was a letter in my mother's handwriting.
Dad read it silently at first. Then his lips began read it silently at first. Then his lips began to tremble.
“What does it say?”” I asked.
He sat to tremble.
“What does it say?”” I asked.
He sat beside me.
“It's for you, sweetheart.””
He placed the letter in my hands.
I beside me.
“It's for you, sweetheart.””
He placed the letter in my hands.
I unfolded it.
My dearest Maya,
*If you're unfolded it.
My dearest Maya,
If you're reading this, something has happened that I hoped reading this, something has happened that I hoped you would never have to face. I need you to remember that money can be replaced, houses can be sold, you would never have to face. I need you to remember that money can be replaced, houses can be sold, and people can disappoint us. But your worth is not something anyone can take away.
I blink and people can disappoint us. But your worth is not something anyone can take away.*
I blinked away tears.
*I have arranged for your future to be protected. If someone tries to interfere with that protection, please ask Daniel to take youed away tears.
I have arranged for your future to be protected. If someone tries to interfere with that protection, please ask Daniel to take you to Evelyn. She knows where the truth is kept.
And if you ever begin to believe that you are difficult to love, remember this: to Evelyn. She knows where the truth is kept.
And if you ever begin to believe that you are difficult to love, remember this: I knew you before the world did, and I loved you before you ever had to prove anything.
You never have to I knew you before the world did, and I loved you before you ever had to prove anything.
You never have to earn your place in this family.
All my love,
Mommy.
earn your place in this family.*
All my love,
Mommy.
I pressed the letter against my chest.
For three years, Vanessa had made me believe that kindness wasI pressed the letter against my chest.
For three years, Vanessa had made me believe that kindness was something I had to earn. That food, clothes, and a something I had to earn. That food, clothes, and a place in the house were privileges I could lose if I displeased her.
place in the house were privileges I could lose if I displeased her.
My mother's words didn't erase those years.
But they gave me something Vanessa had never beenMy mother's words didn't erase those years.
But they gave me something Vanessa had never been able to provide.
A truth about myself that didn't depend on anyone else's opinion.
Dad wrapped his arm around able to provide.
A truth about myself that didn't depend on anyone else's opinion.
Dad wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
Daniel wiped his eyes.
Then his phone rang.
He glanced my shoulders.
Daniel wiped his eyes.
Then his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen and answered.
“Hello?””
His expression changed almost immediately.
“What do you at the screen and answered.
“Hello?””
His expression changed almost immediately.
“What do you mean, she contacted you?””
He stood.
“Where is she now?””
mean, she contacted you?””
He stood.
“Where is she now?””
A pause.
“No. Don't confront her. Just tell me where.””
He endedA pause.
“No. Don't confront her. Just tell me where.””
He ended the call.
Dad rose.
“Who was that?””
“My attorney. the call.
Dad rose.
“Who was that?””
“My attorney. Vanessa called my office this morning.””
“Why?””
Daniel looked at me.
“She wants Vanessa called my office this morning.””
“Why?””
Daniel looked at me.
“She wants to meet me privately. She says she has something that could clear to meet me privately. She says she has something that could clear her name.””
Dad shook his head.
“She had three years to tell the her name.””
Dad shook his head.
“She had three years to tell the truth.””
“Maybe she's finally ready.””
I didn't believe that.
Vanessa had always been truth.””
“Maybe she's finally ready.””
I didn't believe that.
Vanessa had always been ready to speak when she could control the conversation.
She had been ready to explain ready to speak when she could control the conversation.
She had been ready to explain my bruised knees as clumsiness, my missing belongings as my bruised knees as clumsiness, my missing belongings as carelessness, and my tears as manipulation.
But she had never been ready to listen carelessness, and my tears as manipulation.
But she had never been ready to listen.
Daniel looked at the letter in my hands.
“There's one more thing,” he.
Daniel looked at the letter in my hands.
“There's one more thing,” he said.
“Vanessa asked specifically whether we found Rebecca's said.
“Vanessa asked specifically whether we found Rebecca's box.””
Dad and I exchanged a glance.
“How did box.””
Dad and I exchanged a glance.
“How did she know about it?”” Dad asked.
Daniel's voice dropped.
she know about it?”” Dad asked.
Daniel's voice dropped.
“Because the last time Rebecca called me, she said someone had already been“Because the last time Rebecca called me, she said someone had already been to the old house looking for it.””
The room fell silent.
Then Daniel opened his to the old house looking for it.””
The room fell silent.
Then Daniel opened his briefcase again.
He removed a final sheet of paper, a handwritten note my mother briefcase again.
He removed a final sheet of paper, a handwritten note my mother had apparently prepared but never sent.
At the bottom, beneath several had apparently prepared but never sent.
At the bottom, beneath several crossed-out lines, were five words.
*If the box is opened, crossed-out lines, were five words.
If the box is opened, run.
I stared at the sentence.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel run.*
I stared at the sentence.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel shook his head.
“I don't know.””
Dad took the paper from him.
For the shook his head.
“I don't know.””
Dad took the paper from him.
For the first time, the anger in his face was replaced by something colder.
Fear.
He immediately called first time, the anger in his face was replaced by something colder.
Fear.
He immediately called Evelyn.
When she answered, he said, “We need to examine that box Evelyn.
When she answered, he said, “We need to examine that box today. Whatever Rebecca left inside, Vanessa knows today. Whatever Rebecca left inside, Vanessa knows we're looking for it.””
He listened.
Then he added, we're looking for it.””
He listened.
Then he added, “And I want the police involved before we open it.””
After he ended “And I want the police involved before we open it.””
After he ended the call, I looked at my uncle.
“Did Mommy think Vanessa would the call, I looked at my uncle.
“Did Mommy think Vanessa would hurt us?””
Daniel didn't answer quickly enough.
That was hurt us?””
Daniel didn't answer quickly enough.
That was answer enough.
May you like
And somewhere across town, the woman who had once told answer enough.
And somewhere across town, the woman who had once told me I should be useful was preparing to tell her own version me I should be useful was preparing to tell her own version of the truth.
