Chapter 2: The Father Who Never Stopped Looking
Nobody spoke.
The funeral home seemed to have become smaller, as if the walls were closing around us.
I stood beside Daniel with Grandpa's photograph in one hand and the affidavit in the other.
My grandmother was staring at the papers as though they were weapons.
"You're making a terrible mistake," Claire said.
Daniel adjusted his glasses.
"No, Mrs. Bennett. I'm correcting one.""
He turned to the mourners.
"Marcus requested that his final instructions be carried out in front of his immediate family. I believe everyone present should understand why.""
Grandma shook her head.
"This is a private matter.""
"Then you should have respected it when you made it private for thirteen years.""
A murmur moved through the room.
My aunt Margaret, who had been standing near the flower arrangements, stepped forward.
"Claire, what is he talking about?""
Grandma turned sharply.
"Stay out of this, Margaret.""
"But—"
"Not another word.""
I'd never seen my grandmother speak to her sister like that.
Daniel placed the affidavit on a small table.
"Maya, I'd like to explain something. You can stop me whenever you need.""
I nodded.
My knees felt weak.
He began with my mother.
Her name was Elizabeth Bennett.
She had met a young man named Alexander Reed when she was twenty-one. He was studying architecture and working part-time at a small construction firm.
Grandpa Marcus had approved of him.
"He visited our house almost every weekend," Daniel explained.
"Marcus considered him a son.""
I looked at the photograph.
"Was my mother happy with him?""
Daniel smiled sadly.
"Very much so.""
"Then why did Grandma say he left?""
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he opened a folder.
"Your mother became pregnant when she was twenty-three. She and Alexander planned to get married.""
He showed me another photograph.
My mother was standing beside the same man in front of a small brick house.
She was holding a bouquet of yellow flowers.
On the back, Grandpa had written:
The first home they planned to share.
I traced my mother's face with my thumb.
"That's my mom.""
"Yes.""
"She looks happy.""
"She was.""
Grandma suddenly interrupted.
"She was young and foolish. She had no idea what she was doing.""
Daniel looked directly at her.
"Elizabeth was an adult woman who loved the man she intended to marry.""
"She was my daughter!""
"And Marcus was her father. He supported her decision.""
Claire laughed bitterly.
"Marcus supported everything Elizabeth wanted. That's why she made so many mistakes.""
I looked at Grandma.
"What mistakes?""
She didn't answer.
Daniel continued.
"Alexander was working overseas temporarily when Elizabeth died in a car accident. He was returning home when he received the news.""
I swallowed.
"Was he at the hospital?""
Daniel nodded.
"He arrived several hours later.""
"Did he see my mother?""
"Unfortunately, no.""
My chest tightened.
"Did he see me?""
Daniel looked at the next page.
"He was told that you had died too.""
The words hit me harder than anything Grandma had said.
I stared at him.
"What?""
"Someone informed him that the accident had killed both Elizabeth and her daughter.""
I shook my head.
"But I didn't die.""
"No, Maya. You survived.""
I turned toward Claire.
"Who told him that?""
Grandma looked away.
Daniel answered quietly.
"Your grandmother.""
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
I remembered the way Grandma used to say my father had disappeared.
I remembered asking whether he knew I existed.
I remembered her telling me that some men were incapable of love.
"Why?"" I whispered.
Claire folded her arms.
"Because I was protecting you.""
"From my dad?""
"From a man who had no business being in your life.""
Daniel placed another document on the table.
"This is a copy of the original hospital record. Elizabeth was admitted after the accident. Maya was also admitted, but she survived. Your grandfather was contacted and arrived before your grandmother.""
I looked at him.
"Grandpa knew?""
"Yes.""
"Then why didn't he tell me?""
Daniel's expression softened.
"He tried.""
I frowned.
"What do you mean?""
"Marcus confronted Claire shortly after the accident. He discovered that Alexander had been told you were dead. He wanted to contact him immediately.""
Grandma snapped.
"That is not true.""
Daniel took out another sheet.
"Would you like me to read your signed statement?""
Her face went rigid.
I stared at the paper.
"Grandma, what did you do?""
She looked at me.
"Maya, you don't understand what was happening.""
"Then explain it.""
"Your mother was dead. I was grieving. I had just lost my daughter.""
"So did Grandpa.""
Her expression flickered.
"Marcus was too emotional. He couldn't think clearly.""
Daniel interrupted.
"Marcus was thinking clearly enough to hire an independent attorney and begin documenting every attempt Alexander made to contact his daughter.""
He opened a second folder.
Inside were envelopes.
Dozens of them.
Some were yellow with age. Others looked newer.
All had my name written on the front.
Maya Elizabeth Bennett.
I reached for one.
"Are these for me?""
"Yes," Daniel said.
"Who sent them?""
"Alexander.""
I stared at the envelopes.
There were birthday cards.
Christmas cards.
Letters.
One had a small drawing of a teddy bear in the corner.
I picked up the oldest one.
The date was written in blue ink.
November 14, thirteen years earlier.
I opened it.
My precious Maya,
I don't know whether you'll ever read this. I don't even know if you're alive. But I want you to know that your mother and I loved you before we ever saw your face.
Your mother used to talk to you every night while you were still in her belly. She would put my hand against her stomach and tell me you were going to be a stubborn little girl.
I hope she's right.
If you're somewhere out there, I hope someone is giving you the love you deserve.
I will never stop looking.
Love, Dad.
My vision blurred.
I pressed the letter against my chest.
"Why didn't I get these?""
Nobody answered.
I looked at Grandma.
"Why didn't you give them to me?""
She rubbed her forehead.
"I thought it was best.""
"You thought it was best for me not to know my father?""
"He would have confused you.""
"How?""
"He wanted to take you away.""
I turned toward Daniel.
"Did he?""
Daniel shook his head.
"Alexander filed a petition to establish contact. He was prepared to pursue custody if necessary, but he repeatedly stated that his priority was building a relationship with you.""
"Did Grandpa help him?""
"Yes.""
Grandma stepped forward.
"Marcus was manipulated. Alexander knew exactly how to charm him.""
Daniel took out a final document.
"Marcus had an independent investigator verify every claim. Alexander never stopped trying to contact Maya.""
He placed several letters on the table.
"These are registered delivery receipts. Each one was returned or redirected.""
I recognized the handwriting on the return labels.
Claire Bennett.
My stomach turned.
I remembered Grandma telling me that my father didn't care enough to write.
She had been holding the letters the entire time.
"Did you throw them away?"" I asked.
She looked at me.
"Maya—"
"Did you throw away my birthday cards?""
"Some of them.""
"Why?""
"Because I knew what he was trying to do.""
I began crying again.
This time, I wasn't crying only because Grandpa was gone.
I was crying because there had been someone else who wanted to love me.
Someone who had spent years believing I was dead.
Someone who had sent me birthday cards I had never received.
And someone had taken every single one away.
Daniel gently placed a hand on the table.
"There's something else.""
I looked at him.
"What?""
"Your grandfather arranged a meeting.""
My heart jumped.
"With my father?""
"Yes.""
"Where is he?""
Daniel glanced toward the funeral home's front doors.
"He's been waiting outside.""
I couldn't speak.
My eyes moved toward the entrance.
Through the glass, I could see a man standing near a black car.
He wore a dark coat.
His hair was almost completely gray at the temples.
He was holding something in his hands.
A small bouquet of yellow flowers.
I recognized him from the photographs.
The man who had his arm around my pregnant mother.
The man who had written thirteen years of letters.
My father.
"Why hasn't he come in?"" I whispered.
Daniel's voice became gentle.
"Because he promised Marcus he wouldn't approach you unless you wanted to meet him.""
I looked toward Grandma.
She was shaking her head.
"Don't go near him.""
I wiped my cheeks.
"Why?""
"Because he'll take you away.""
Daniel spoke firmly.
"That decision belongs to the court, not to you.""
Claire turned toward him.
"She is my granddaughter!""
"And Alexander is her father.""
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then the man outside lifted his head.
His eyes met mine through the glass.
He didn't wave.
He didn't smile.
He simply stood there, holding the yellow flowers.
And somehow, that made my heart hurt even more.
I turned to Daniel.
"Can I talk to him?""
Daniel nodded.
"Of course.""
I took one step toward the door.
Then Grandma grabbed my wrist.
"Maya, if you walk out there, don't expect to come back to my house.""
I looked down at her hand.
Then I looked at her face.
For thirteen years, I had believed that I needed her permission to be loved.
I slowly pulled my wrist free.
"Maybe I don't want to come back.""
Her mouth fell open.
I walked toward the entrance.
Every step felt heavier than the last.
When I opened the door, the cold November air touched my face.
The man dropped the flowers.
"Maya?""
His voice cracked.
I stopped.
He took one small step forward, then immediately stopped himself.
"I'm Alexander," he whispered.
I stared at him.
He had my eyes.
My mother's smile.
And a sadness that looked almost exactly like mine.
"Are you really my dad?""
His chin trembled.
"Yes, sweetheart.""
I didn't know what to say.
He glanced at the photograph in my hand.
"Your grandfather gave you that?""
I nodded.
Alexander covered his mouth.
For a moment, he looked as though he might collapse.
"I've been waiting thirteen years to hear your voice.""
I looked down at the flowers.
"Why yellow?""
He smiled through his tears.
"Your mother loved yellow roses. She said they looked like little pieces of sunshine.""
My throat closed.
Grandpa used to call me Sunshine.
I looked back at the funeral home.
Through the glass, Grandma was watching us.
Alexander followed my gaze.
Then he quietly said something I would remember for the rest of my life.
"Your grandfather told me you might be frightened. He also told me not to rush you.""
He bent down, picked up the flowers, and held them out.
"These are for you. But you don't have to hug me. You don't even have to call me Dad yet.""
I looked at him for a long time.
Then I asked the question that had been hurting me since I was five.
"Did you really want me?""
Alexander's eyes filled completely.
He knelt on the pavement.
"Oh, Maya.""
He pressed one hand against his chest.
"I wanted you so much that I spent thirteen years trying to find you.""
And for the first time in my life, I heard my father cry.
But just as I reached toward him, a car pulled into the funeral home's parking lot.
A woman stepped out.
She carried a leather briefcase and walked straight toward Daniel.
He recognized her immediately.
His expression changed.
"What's wrong?"" I asked.
Daniel looked at me.
"That's the attorney representing your grandmother.""
The woman opened her briefcase.
May you like
And the first thing she said was:
"Mr. Brooks, my client intends to challenge Marcus Bennett's will.""
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