Chapter 5: Claire Comes Home
Marcus moved first.
He rushed toward the front door.
Vanessa grabbed his arm.
“Don't.””
Marcus looked at her.
“She can't be here.””
The doorbell rang.
Once.
Twice.
Then a third time.
Nia stood frozen.
Claire was on the other side.
The woman from the photograph.
The woman who apparently knew secrets about her mother.
Marcus opened the door.
Claire stood on the porch wearing a dark coat.
She looked older than she had in the photograph.
Tired.
But her eyes were sharp.
She looked directly at Nia.
“I knew you'd come.””
Nia's throat tightened.
“How did you know?””
Claire glanced at Marcus.
“Because your father finally ran out of ways to hide the truth.””
Marcus stepped outside.
“Claire, you need to leave.””
“No.””
“You don't understand.””
“I understand perfectly.””
Vanessa appeared behind him.
“Claire.””
Claire looked at her.
“Vanessa.””
There was years of history in the single exchange.
Nia stepped onto the porch.
“Someone sent me a photograph.””
Claire nodded.
“I did.””
Nia stared at her.
“Why?””
“Because your father wasn't going to tell you.””
Marcus shook his head.
“I was protecting her.””
Claire's expression hardened.
“You've been calling it protection for six years.””
Nia looked between them.
“Six years?””
Claire nodded.
“Your mother died six years ago.””
“I know.””
“She didn't die knowing the truth.””
Nia's heart pounded.
“What truth?””
Claire looked at Marcus.
“Tell her.””
Marcus said nothing.
Claire took a small envelope from her coat.
She handed it to Nia.
“Your mother left this for you.””
Nia stared at the envelope.
Her name was written across the front.
*For Nia, when she is ready.*
Her hands trembled.
“When did she write this?””
“The week before she died.””
Nia looked at her father.
“Dad?””
Marcus's face crumpled.
“I didn't know she had written it.””
Claire shook her head.
“You knew.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Don't do this.””
“You knew about the letter.””
“I knew she had something.””
“You knew exactly where it was.””
Nia's voice rose.
“Where?””
Marcus closed his eyes.
Claire answered.
“In the red folder.””
Nia stared at the house.
The locked study.
The red folder.
The letter.
Everything suddenly connected.
She tore open the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten note.
Her mother's handwriting.
Nia recognized it instantly.
Her eyes moved across the first line.
*My dearest Nia,*
She pressed one hand against her mouth.
The second line made her knees weak.
*If you're reading this, then your father has finally decided that the truth is more important than keeping his promise to me.*
Nia looked up.
Marcus was crying.
Vanessa stood completely still.
Claire whispered, “Keep reading.””
Nia looked back down.
The next sentence was only seven words.
*Your father did not steal the money.*
Nia's breath caught.
Then she read the final line.
*But I know who did.*
The porch light flickered.
And from inside the house came the unmistakable sound of glass breaking.
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