Chapter 8: The Letter in the Attic
I drove like a man running out of time.
Evelyn sat beside me.
Lily was in the back seat.
My father-in-law and Vanessa followed in another car.
Nobody spoke for the first ten minutes.
Finally, Lily broke the silence.
“Are you angry with me?””
I looked at her through the mirror.
“No.””
“You should be.””
“Why?””
“Because I knew about you.””
I frowned.
“About me?””
“About you being my dad.””
I gripped the steering wheel.
“How?””
“My mom showed me pictures.””
“When?””
“When I was little.””
“Why didn't she tell me?””
“She said she was trying to keep me safe.””
Evelyn looked out the window.
“I thought your wife was going to have me arrested.””
“Were you guilty of anything?””
“No.””
“Then why did you run?””
“Because I was accused of killing my sister.””
“And you weren't?””
“No.””
“What happened that night?””
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“Your first wife called me to the hospital.””
“Why?””
“She said she knew everything.””
“Everything about what?””
“She knew Vanessa had been changing the medical records.””
I glanced at her.
“Why?””
“Because Vanessa wanted you to believe Maya was your only child.””
“Why would she do that?””
Evelyn looked at me.
“Because she was afraid you'd discover who Maya really was.””
“Maya is my daughter.””
“Yes.””
“Then what was Vanessa hiding?””
Evelyn hesitated.
“Not Maya's father.””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
“She was hiding Maya's mother.””
I looked at her.
“You.””
Evelyn nodded.
“She knew you would search for me.””
“And?””
“And I knew you would never stop.””
The house appeared at the end of the street.
My mother's car was parked crookedly in the driveway.
The front door was open.
I slammed the brakes.
“Maya!””
I ran inside.
My mother stood at the bottom of the stairs.
She was crying.
“She went upstairs.””
“Where?””
“The attic.””
I ran.
“Maya!””
No answer.
I reached the attic door.
It was open.
Inside, boxes had been pulled from shelves.
Old photographs covered the floor.
Maya stood beside a small wooden trunk.
Her face was wet with tears.
“Dad.””
I rushed to her.
“Are you okay?””
She nodded.
“Where is Grandma?””
“She went downstairs.””
I knelt.
“Did you hurt yourself?””
“No.””
“What happened?””
Maya pointed to the trunk.
“I found this.””
I opened it.
Inside were letters.
Dozens.
All addressed to me.
I picked one up.
The date was ten years old.
Three months after my wife died.
I looked at Maya.
“Why didn't Vanessa give these to me?””
“She said you weren't ready.””
My jaw tightened.
“Who told you that?””
“Vanessa.””
I opened the first letter.
Marcus, I know you believe I died before I could tell you the truth.
I swallowed.
That isn't what happened.
My hands started shaking.
Maya moved closer.
“Dad?””
I read aloud.
“Your wife did not kill herself.””
Maya's eyes widened.
“What?””
I looked at the next page.
I know Vanessa will tell you Evelyn was responsible.
I stopped.
The attic seemed to go silent.
Maya whispered, “She lied.””
“Yes.””
I kept reading.
Evelyn came to the hospital because I called her. I asked her to take Lily.
My eyes widened.
Lily.
I looked toward the attic doorway.
Evelyn was standing there.
She had tears streaming down her face.
I continued.
If Marcus ever finds this, tell him I wanted both girls to know each other.
I looked at Evelyn.
“Why didn't you show me?””
She shook her head.
“I never had it.””
“Then who did?””
Evelyn pointed behind me.
Vanessa stood in the doorway.
She looked at the letters.
Then at Maya.
“Maya…”
Maya backed away.
“You lied to Dad.””
Vanessa's face collapsed.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“From what?””
“From Evelyn.””
Evelyn stepped forward.
“You've been saying that for eleven years.””
“Because it was true.””
“No.””
Vanessa looked at her.
“You know what happens if Marcus learns everything.””
Evelyn went still.
“What do you mean?””
Vanessa's eyes moved toward my father-in-law.
He had entered the attic behind her.
I stood.
“Enough.””
Both women looked at me.
“I want the truth.””
My father-in-law shook his head.
“You don't.””
“I've had enough of people deciding what I can handle.””
I held up the letter.
“My wife said Vanessa would blame Evelyn.””
Vanessa whispered, “She was right to.””
“Why?””
“Because Evelyn was there.””
“She didn't kill her.””
“No.””
“Then what did she do?””
Vanessa's lips trembled.
“She left her.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“Your wife was on the stairs.””
Vanessa's voice cracked.
“Evelyn was there. She could have saved her.””
Evelyn shook her head.
“She was already unconscious.””
“You left her.””
“I was terrified.””
“You ran.””
“I didn't know she'd die.””
I looked between them.
“Then what happened after?””
Vanessa looked at me.
“I arrived.””
“And?””
“I saw her.””
“Alive?””
“Yes.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“She was alive when I arrived.””
Evelyn stared at her.
“You never told me that.””
“I couldn't.””
I stepped closer.
“What did my wife say?””
Vanessa began sobbing.
“She asked me to call you.””
“But you didn't.””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because she told me something.””
“What?””
Vanessa looked at Maya.
Then at Lily.
“She said one of the girls wasn't yours.””
My blood ran cold.
“What?””
“She was confused.””
“You said she was alive.””
“She was dying.””
“What exactly did she say?””
Vanessa covered her face.
“She said…”
I waited.
“She said Maya wasn't the baby who belonged with you.””
Maya stared at her.
“What does that mean?””
Vanessa lowered her hands.
“I switched them.””
The words were barely audible.
Evelyn screamed.
“You did what?””
Vanessa cried.
“I switched the babies.””
The room erupted.
My father-in-law grabbed her arm.
“Vanessa, stop.””
“No!””
She pulled away.
“I can't keep lying.””
I stared at her.
“Which baby did you give me?””
Vanessa looked at Maya.
Then at Lily.
And whispered:
“Lily.””
Maya's face went blank.
Evelyn covered her mouth.
I couldn't move.
My daughter.
The girl I had raised.
The girl who called me Dad.
The girl whose birthday we had just celebrated.
Vanessa had switched the babies.
But if Lily was the baby my wife wanted me to raise…
Then who was Maya?
I turned toward the girl standing beside Evelyn.
Maya was crying.
“Dad?””
I couldn't answer.
She took one step toward me.
“I'm still your daughter, right?””
Before I could reach her, my father-in-law spoke.
“No.””
Everyone turned.
He looked at Maya.
Then at me.
“The DNA report was altered.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
He pointed at the letters.
“Vanessa didn't switch the babies.””
May you like
He looked at Evelyn.
“Evelyn did.””
