Chapter 7: The Letter My Father Never Sent
I held the envelope without opening it.
Daniel Hale.
The name meant nothing to me.
But my mother reacted as though she had just seen a ghost.
"Don't read that," she whispered.
I looked at her.
"Why?""
"Because it's old.""
"That doesn't answer my question.""
She stepped toward me.
"Nia, please. Some things are better left alone.""
I moved the envelope behind my back.
"You've spent twenty-six years telling me what I should and shouldn't know. I'm done.""
My mother sat on the edge of the desk.
Maya quietly closed the storage-room door.
Brianna stood in the hallway, watching us.
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a letter written in blue ink.
Denise,
I know you may never forgive me for leaving. I also know Victoria has told you that I wanted nothing to do with the baby.
That is not true.
I have tried to contact you several times, but every letter has been returned. Your mother says you do not want to hear from me.
I don't know what happened between you and Victoria, but I know she has been interfering.
I am not asking you to come back to me. I am asking you to let me meet my daughter.
I have enclosed my address and a number where I can be reached.
If she ever asks about me, please tell her I wanted to know her.
Daniel.
I read it twice.
Then I looked at my mother.
"You received this?""
She shook her head.
"Not directly.""
"Then how did Grandma get it?""
"Victoria gave it to her.""
"When?""
"Before you were born.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Why didn't you give it to me?""
My mother looked down.
"Because Victoria told me he had abandoned us.""
"But he was trying to contact you.""
"She said the letter was fake.""
"Did you believe her?""
My mother didn't answer.
I turned the paper over.
There was a date.
The letter had been written twenty-six years ago.
Three weeks before I was born.
I looked at the return address.
A small town in Pennsylvania.
Then I noticed something else.
A second sheet was folded inside the envelope.
It was a handwritten note from my grandmother.
Denise,
I cannot force you to forgive Daniel. But I will not let you erase him from your daughter's life because another person has decided what your family should become.
Victoria is not telling you the truth.
I have tried to speak to you, but you refuse to listen.
Please, don't make Nia pay for our mistakes.
I lowered the papers.
My mother began sobbing.
"I was young.""
I looked at her.
"So was I.""
She wiped her face.
"I was scared. Daniel wanted to marry me, but Victoria said he was only interested in the business. She told me he had been asking questions about the collection and the money.""
"And Grandma disagreed.""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
My mother looked toward the photograph.
"Because she knew Daniel.""
"How?""
"He was her accountant.""
I blinked.
"What?""
"He helped your grandmother manage the business after Victoria left. He was kind. He was patient. He never treated her like she was incapable of understanding money.""
I looked down at the letter.
"Then why did he disappear?""
My mother shook her head.
"He didn't. I made him disappear.""
The room went silent.
Brianna whispered, "Mom...""
My mother pressed her hands against her face.
"Victoria told me Daniel had another woman. She showed me photographs. She said he was planning to take the baby and use the family business to secure his future.""
"Did you ever verify that?""
"No.""
I stepped away from her.
"Did you ever try to contact him?""
She shook her head.
"Not after the letter.""
I felt a bitter laugh escape.
"You believed a woman who had already threatened Grandma's career, but you refused to believe your own mother.""
Denise looked up.
"I thought I was protecting you.""
"From what?""
"From being abandoned.""
I held up the letter.
"He didn't abandon me. You kept him away.""
My mother began crying harder.
For years, I had imagined my father as a man who had walked out without looking back.
Whenever other children talked about their fathers, I pretended I didn't care.
Whenever someone asked about him, my mother said he had chosen another life.
Now I was holding proof that he had wanted to meet me.
And someone had made sure he never got the chance.
I looked at the address.
"Is he still there?""
My mother shook her head.
"I don't know.""
Maya took out her phone.
"We can find out.""
I carefully placed the letter inside its envelope.
"Do it.""
My mother stood.
"Nia, please. Don't turn this into another fight.""
I looked at her.
"You're the one who turned my entire life into a lie.""
She flinched.
Then Brianna spoke.
"Mom, why did you let Victoria do all this?""
Denise looked at her.
"Because she promised me something.""
"What?""
"She said if I helped her secure the collection, she would make sure both of my daughters had successful careers.""
I stared.
"So you traded Grandma's work for promises?""
My mother shook her head.
"I thought she could help.""
"You gave her access to my studio.""
"I didn't know she would use it against you.""
"You let Brianna claim my designs.""
"I wanted her to have something.""
I looked at my sister.
Brianna's eyes were wet.
"Mom, I didn't ask you to steal anything.""
Denise turned toward her.
"You wanted to be a designer.""
"I wanted to be successful. I didn't want to ruin Nia.""
For once, Brianna sounded sincere.
I looked at her.
"Then why didn't you tell the truth when you saw the documents?""
She swallowed.
"Because I was scared.""
"Of what?""
"Of losing everything.""
I nodded slowly.
At least she was finally honest.
Maya returned from the hallway.
"I found a possible address for Daniel Hale.""
I turned.
"Where?""
"He's still in Pennsylvania. He owns a small accounting firm. According to the public business listing, he's retired, but the firm is still active under his name.""
My heart began racing.
"Can we contact him?""
"I found a phone number.""
I looked at the letter again.
Then I dialed.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
A man's voice answered.
"Daniel Hale speaking.""
I couldn't speak.
Maya gently touched my arm.
I swallowed.
"Hello. My name is Nia Carter.""
Silence.
Then I heard a chair move.
"Who?""
"Nia Carter.""
The man breathed sharply.
"Denise's daughter?""
I closed my eyes.
"Yes.""
His voice broke.
"Oh, my God.""
I pressed my hand against my mouth.
He continued.
"I've waited a long time for this call.""
Tears rolled down my cheeks.
"Did you know about me?""
"Every single year.""
"Did you try to find me?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you?""
He was silent for a moment.
Then he said, "Because your mother told me you were better off without me.""
I looked at Denise.
She lowered her head.
I turned away.
"Did you ever receive a photograph of me?""
"Only one. Your grandmother sent it when you were about six months old.""
I swallowed.
"What did it look like?""
He laughed softly through his tears.
"You were wearing a yellow dress. You had a little ribbon in your hair. Your grandmother wrote that you were already trying to grab everything on the table.""
I smiled despite myself.
"That sounds like me.""
"I know.""
His voice trembled.
"Nia, I don't expect you to call me your father. I don't expect anything. I just want you to know that I never stopped wanting to meet you.""
I closed my eyes.
For the first time in twenty-six years, someone was telling me that I had been wanted.
"Would you meet me?"" I whispered.
There was a long silence.
Then he answered.
"Tomorrow, if you can.""
I looked at Maya.
She nodded.
"Tomorrow," I said.
After the call ended, I sat on the floor.
Maya wrapped her arms around me.
Brianna stood nearby, crying quietly.
My mother remained beside the desk.
I didn't look at her.
But before we left, she spoke.
"Nia, there's something else.""
I turned reluctantly.
She held a second photograph.
It showed Victoria standing beside my grandmother.
Between them was a man.
Daniel.
On the back was a handwritten message.
The day Victoria told Denise that Daniel had abandoned her.
I frowned.
Then I noticed the date.
It was the same day Daniel had written his letter.
My mother handed me the photograph.
And beneath the message was a final sentence in my grandmother's handwriting.
Victoria has been lying about Daniel from the beginning. She knows who his father really was.
I stared at the words.
Daniel's father.
Why would that matter?
Before I could ask, my phone rang.
A message from Adrian.
We have located the missing silver authentication tag. Unfortunately, it was not thrown away.
A second message followed.
It was delivered to Victoria Hale.
I looked at the screen.
Then another notification appeared.
A photograph.
Victoria was standing outside my mother's house.
May you like
Holding the silver tag.
And smiling.
