Chapter 8: The Letter Laura Left Behind
I couldn’t move.
The photograph sat between us.
A picture of Laura standing beside Rebecca.
Not recently.
Years ago.
Before I met Rebecca.
Before my life changed forever.
“Where did you get that?””
Rebecca looked at me.
“Laura gave it to me.””
Impossible.
Laura never mentioned Rebecca.
Not once.
I picked up the photo.
On the back was handwriting.
Laura’s handwriting.
My hands shook.
Daniel,
Some people enter your life pretending to save you.
Be careful.
I read it again.
And again.
Rebecca watched my face.
“She knew.””
“Knew what?””
Rebecca’s voice softened.
“She knew I wanted you.””
The chapel went silent.
“You met Laura before she died?””
Rebecca nodded.
“She found out about me.””
I felt confused.
“What are you talking about?””
Rebecca looked at Emily.
Then at me.
“Your wife knew I was obsessed with the life you had.””
The word hit me.
Obsessed.
Not loved.
Not cared.
Obsessed.
Rebecca explained.
Years before Laura passed, she worked with a charity where Rebecca volunteered.
Rebecca had seen my family.
She had seen pictures.
She had seen the life I shared with Laura and Emily.
“I admired you,” Rebecca said.
I shook my head.
“No.””
She continued.
“I thought you had everything I wanted.””
My stomach tightened.
“And when Laura got sick…”
She stopped.
The silence was enough.
I understood.
Rebecca had been waiting.
Waiting for my family to become vulnerable.
Waiting for an opening.
Maria covered her mouth.
“That’s horrible.””
Rebecca looked at her.
“You don’t understand.””
“No,” I said.
“We understand.””
She looked at me.
“You were never building a family with us.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I loved you.””
I shook my head.
“You loved the idea of me.””
Then I remembered something.
The letters.
I looked at her.
“Why did you want Laura’s letters?””
Her expression changed.
For the first time, she looked truly scared.
I stepped closer.
“What did you do?””
She didn’t answer.
That was when I knew.
There was something worse.
Thomas called again.
This time, I answered immediately.
“Thomas.””
His voice was serious.
“Did you see the photo?””
“Yes.””
“Then you know.””
“Know what?””
A long pause.
“Laura discovered Rebecca had been watching your family before you met her.””
My chest tightened.
“She told you?””
“She told me everything.””
I looked at Rebecca.
“She was afraid.””
Rebecca whispered:
“She was paranoid.””
Thomas responded immediately.
“No. She was protecting Daniel and Emily.””
Then he said something that changed everything.
“Daniel, you need to find Laura’s final letter.””
I froze.
“I thought I had all of them.””
“No.””
Thomas’ voice lowered.
“There was one letter she never gave you.””
Rebecca suddenly moved.
“No.””
Everyone looked at her.
She realized her mistake.
I stared.
“You know about the letter.””
May you like
She said nothing.
And that was her confession.
