Chapter 6: The Locked Cabinet and My Mother's Last Letter
Grandpa's study was at the end of the hallway.
I had walked past that door hundreds of times.
Sometimes, I could hear him laughing on the phone.
Sometimes, I could smell his coffee and the peppermint candies he kept in a glass bowl.
And sometimes, when I was having a bad day, he'd leave the door open so I could sit on the small sofa while he worked.
It had always been my favorite room in the house.
Until Grandma banned me from entering it.
Now I was standing outside it with a silver key in my hand.
Daniel unlocked the door.
"Take your time, Maya.""
I stepped inside.
The room smelled exactly as I remembered.
Old books.
Coffee.
Leather.
A faint trace of Grandpa's aftershave.
His gray cardigan was still hanging over the back of his chair.
I stopped.
For a moment, I expected him to look up from his desk and say, "There's my Sunshine.""
But the chair was empty.
I walked toward it slowly.
On the desk sat a framed photograph of Grandpa and me.
I was about eight years old, wearing a red sweater and holding a giant birthday cake.
He had frosting on his nose.
I smiled despite the tears.
"Grandpa was terrible at decorating cakes," I whispered.
Alexander looked at the photograph.
"He told me about that cake.""
I turned.
"He did?""
"Yes. He said you insisted on putting every candle on it, even though there wasn't enough room.""
I laughed softly.
"I wanted all eight.""
"Apparently, he had to remove the frosting flowers to make room.""
I looked at the desk again.
A small handwritten note was waiting beside the photograph.
Sunshine,
If you're reading this, Daniel has finally allowed you into my study.
Don't let him convince you that he knows where I keep everything. He doesn't.
I smiled.
Daniel chuckled.
"Your grandfather enjoyed making me look for things.""
The note continued.
The key is for the locked cabinet beside the bookshelf.
Inside is something your mother wanted you to have.
I hope you will understand why I kept it safe.
Love, Grandpa.
I walked toward the cabinet.
It was made of dark oak, with a brass lock.
I had asked Grandma about it dozens of times.
She had always told me it contained boring paperwork.
Sometimes, she even threatened to punish me for looking at it.
Now the silver key slid into the lock.
I turned it.
Click.
The cabinet opened.
Inside were several folders, a small wooden box, and a bundle of envelopes tied with a yellow ribbon.
I carefully lifted the box.
It was old and beautifully carved.
A small flower was engraved on the lid.
I recognized the design.
It was the same flower Grandpa used to draw on my birthday cards.
I placed the box on his desk.
"Can I open it?""
Daniel nodded.
"Of course.""
The lid lifted easily.
Inside was a small collection of objects.
A silver baby bracelet.
A photograph of my mother holding me as a newborn.
A tiny yellow knitted hat.
And a letter.
The letter was addressed to me.
My little Maya.
My breath caught.
I picked it up with both hands.
The paper was slightly yellow around the edges.
I recognized my mother's handwriting from the letter Daniel had shown me earlier.
I sat in Grandpa's chair.
Then I began reading.
My precious girl,
If you are reading this, I hope you are old enough to understand how much I loved you.
I wish I could have watched you grow.
I wish I could have taught you to dance, taken you to the beach, and watched you lose your first tooth.
I wish I could have been there when you started school.
But if I cannot be there, I want you to know something.
Your father is a good man.
He loves you.
He will probably cry the first time he sees you because he cried when he first held you.
Please don't mistake his sadness for weakness.
He has a very big heart.
I stopped reading.
Across the room, Alexander was wiping his face.
I looked at him.
"Did you cry when I was born?""
He laughed quietly.
"I cried before the nurse even placed you in my arms.""
I smiled.
"Why?""
"Because you were so small. I was afraid I'd hurt you.""
I looked down at the letter again.
I also want you to know that Marcus is your grandfather in every way that matters.
He chose me when I needed a family.
He loved me when I was too young to understand how lucky I was.
He promised me that if anything happened to me, he would protect you.
I trust him with my life.
My throat tightened.
I continued.
There is one thing I hope you will never believe.
You were never the reason your parents struggled.
You were never the reason I was unhappy.
And you were never unwanted.
You were the happiest surprise of my life.
I love you more than words can explain.
Forever your mom,
Elizabeth.
I lowered the letter.
I couldn't stop crying.
Alexander moved closer but didn't touch me.
"Would you like a hug?"" he asked.
I nodded.
He knelt beside the chair and wrapped his arms around me.
He held me gently, as if I were something precious.
For a moment, I closed my eyes.
I remembered Grandpa's promise.
You'll never be alone.
Maybe he had known that one day I would need to understand what those words really meant.
Daniel gave us a few minutes.
Then he approached the cabinet.
"There are more documents here.""
I wiped my cheeks.
"What kind?""
He removed a thick folder.
"Marcus's notes concerning the investigation.""
He opened it.
Inside were photographs, bank statements, and copies of letters.
I recognized Grandma's handwriting on several envelopes.
Daniel examined one.
"Interesting.""
"What?""
He showed me the document.
It was a letter addressed to Alexander.
The date was thirteen years earlier.
The first sentence read:
If you contact Maya again, I will make sure you never see her.
Alexander went pale.
"I received a letter like that.""
Daniel looked at him.
"Did you keep it?""
"Yes. I still have it.""
"Did you ever respond?""
"I tried. But every letter was returned.""
Daniel placed the document beside the others.
Then he found a second envelope.
This one had been addressed to Grandpa.
The handwriting was Claire's.
He opened it.
The letter contained only a few lines.
Marcus,
If you insist on bringing Alexander back into this family, I will tell everyone what Elizabeth did before she died.
You know what I mean.
Do not force me to expose it.
Daniel read the message twice.
Then he looked toward the door.
"Claire.""
Grandma was standing there.
I hadn't heard her enter.
She was staring at the letter in Daniel's hand.
"Put that away.""
Daniel didn't move.
"What's the meaning of this?""
"Nothing.""
"Then why did you threaten Marcus?""
"I didn't threaten him.""
Daniel held up the paper.
"You wrote that you would expose something Elizabeth did.""
Claire stepped into the room.
"That was between me and my husband.""
I stood.
"What did Mom do?""
"Nothing you need to know.""
"Why does everyone keep saying that?""
Claire turned toward me.
"Because you're a child!""
I flinched.
Alexander moved closer.
"Don't speak to her like that.""
Grandma ignored him.
"Elizabeth wasn't perfect, Maya. She made mistakes. She lied. She kept secrets.""
I looked at the letter.
"What secrets?""
Claire's face tightened.
"She was planning to leave.""
"With my dad?""
"Yes.""
"Why is that bad?""
"Because she wanted to take you away from Marcus.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Marcus knew about their plans. He supported them.""
"She was going to leave without telling me!""
Grandma's voice cracked.
I stared at her.
"Why would Mom need to tell you?""
She looked away.
For a long moment, nobody spoke.
Then Daniel examined the letter again.
"There's something strange about the date.""
He checked another page.
"This was written two weeks after Elizabeth died.""
Alexander frowned.
"Then why does it say she was planning to leave?""
Daniel nodded slowly.
"Exactly.""
He pulled out a different document.
It was a handwritten statement from Grandpa.
Claire continues to use Elizabeth's plans to leave as a reason to justify her actions. She has repeatedly suggested that Elizabeth intended to abandon her family.
This is false.
Elizabeth wanted to move away with Alexander because she wanted to start her own family.
She never intended to abandon Maya or Marcus.
I am beginning to believe Claire is hiding something much more serious than resentment.
I looked up.
"What did Grandpa think Grandma was hiding?""
Daniel turned another page.
At the bottom was a handwritten note.
Ask about the hospital room.
Alexander frowned.
"What hospital room?""
Daniel looked through the folder.
He found a photocopy of an old hospital visitor log.
The date was the day my mother died.
Several names appeared.
Marcus Bennett.
Alexander Reed.
Claire Bennett.
And another name.
*Dr. Samuel Whitmore.*
I looked at Daniel.
"Who is he?""
Daniel studied the page.
"He was the physician responsible for part of Elizabeth's treatment.""
"Is he still alive?""
Daniel nodded.
"According to Marcus's notes, yes.""
Alexander took the document.
"Why is his name important?""
Daniel pointed to the bottom of the page.
There was a handwritten note.
Dr. Whitmore agreed to speak with me. He said he had information about the hours immediately following Elizabeth's accident.
My stomach tightened.
"What information?""
Daniel turned the page.
There was a short paragraph written in Grandpa's handwriting.
He claims the information Claire gave Alexander about Maya's condition was not the only false statement made that night.
I stared at the words.
"What does that mean?""
Nobody answered.
Daniel carefully placed the papers on the desk.
"Marcus was trying to verify something before he died.""
Alexander looked at the hospital record.
"Something about the night Elizabeth died?""
Daniel nodded.
"Yes.""
Then he found another page.
This one contained a handwritten phone number and a name.
Dr. Samuel Whitmore.
Beside it, Grandpa had written:
Appointment confirmed. November 18. Ask him about the second medical report.
I looked at the date.
It was four days after Grandpa's funeral.
"Was Grandpa supposed to meet him?""
Daniel nodded.
"He had arranged the appointment before his condition deteriorated.""
Alexander looked at the papers.
"Then we should speak to him.""
Daniel hesitated.
"I agree.""
Grandma suddenly moved toward the desk.
"That won't be necessary.""
Daniel looked up.
"Why not?""
"Because there's nothing to discuss.""
I stared at her.
"How do you know?""
She opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Alexander slowly stepped toward her.
"Claire, what happened at that hospital?""
She shook her head.
"Nothing.""
"Then why are you afraid of a doctor?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
For the first time, I thought I saw something other than anger in her face.
Fear.
Real fear.
She looked at the hospital record.
Then she whispered:
"Because Dr. Whitmore knows what really happened to Elizabeth.""
I felt my blood turn cold.
"Was Mom's accident not an accident?""
Grandma looked at me.
And before anyone could ask another question, she said something that made Alexander stumble backward.
"Your mother was alive when I left that hospital room.""
Daniel went completely still.
Alexander stared at her.
"What did you just say?""
Claire covered her mouth.
May you like
Then she whispered:
"And I was the last person who spoke to her.""
