Chapter 6 - The Invitation
Hannah did not call her parents immediately.
Instead, she waited until Owen’s tenth birthday.
He had chosen a history-themed celebration at school and insisted on dressing as a young military officer because his class was presenting stories about courage.
That evening, after the party, he found Daniel’s photograph on Hannah’s desk.
“Is this my dad?”
Hannah sat beside him.
“Yes.”
“He looks like me.”
“You have the same expression when you’re concentrating.”
“Was he an engineer?”
“Yes.”
“Did he build things?”
“He designed machines. But what mattered most was that he tried to keep people safe.”
Owen traced the edge of the photograph.
“Is he dead?”
Hannah had rehearsed many answers over the years.
None felt right.
“I don’t know,” she said.
Owen looked at her.
“You always say adults should tell the truth even when it’s difficult.”
“You’re right.”
“Then why don’t we know?”
“Because some people hid what happened.”
“Who?”
Hannah looked toward the window.
“My parents may know more than they told me.”
“My grandparents?”
“Yes.”
Owen had seen photographs of Frank and Diane, though he had never met them.
“Why don’t they visit?”
“They made a choice a long time ago. It hurt me, and I decided we were safer without them.”
“Do they know about me?”
“I think so.”
“Do they know I’m ten?”
Hannah’s throat tightened.
“I don’t know.”
Owen placed the photograph down.
“Maybe they should.”
His words carried no anger.
Only curiosity.
That made Hannah’s decision easier.
She mailed a single envelope to Frank and Diane.
Inside was a copy of the old photograph and a note:
I am coming on Saturday at noon. Owen will be with me. This is your only opportunity to tell the truth before the authorities do.
Diane called the next morning.
Hannah stared at the ringing phone for several seconds before answering.
“Hannah?”
Her mother’s voice sounded older.
“Yes.”
Diane began crying immediately.
“I’ve wanted to call you every day.”
“You had ten years.”
“I know.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Your father said it would put you in danger.”
“My father threw me into the rain while I was pregnant.”
“He believed Caldwell was watching the house.”
“Did you?”
Silence.
“Hannah, there are things you don’t know.”
“I know Daniel survived the factory accident.”
Diane inhaled sharply.
“I know Dad went to the company clinic. I know he signed Daniel into a rehabilitation center under a false name.”
“Hannah—”
“And I know both of you allowed the world to believe Daniel caused the disaster.”
“I tried to stop it.”
“You stayed silent.”
“I was afraid.”
“So was I.”
Diane wept quietly.
Hannah felt no pleasure in hearing it.
“I’ll be there Saturday,” she said. “Do not invite anyone. Do not warn Caldwell.”
“He still has people in town.”
“Then choose carefully, Mom. You only get to make this choice once.”
On Saturday morning, Hannah put on the yellow dress Daniel had once said made her look like sunlight.
It no longer fit exactly as it had when she was nineteen, but that was the point.
She was not returning as the frightened girl her parents had expelled.
She was returning as a mother, an investigator, and the person Daniel had trusted to finish what he began.
Owen put on his costume and cap.
“Are you nervous?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Me too.”
Hannah held out her hand.
“We’ll be nervous together.”
They drove to Westbridge.
The factory’s smokestacks were visible long before the Sullivan house appeared.
Owen stared out the window.
“Is that where Dad worked?”
“Yes.”
“Is that where he saved people?”
Hannah tightened her grip on the steering wheel.
“Yes.”
When they reached the house, Frank was already standing behind the front door.
For a moment, Hannah saw the father she remembered.
Then he recognized Owen.
May you like
And terror filled his face.
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