Chapter 6 - Easter at Hawthorne Mansion
Hawthorne Mansion looked beautiful on Easter Sunday.
White flowers surrounded the entrance. Golden ribbons hung from the trees, and hundreds of painted eggs decorated the gardens. A string quartet played beside the fountain as guests arrived in expensive cars.
Thomas parked his twelve-year-old sedan between two luxury vehicles.
A valet looked at the car, then at Thomas’s plain blue shirt.
“Staff parking is behind the house.”
“I’m a guest.”
The young man immediately apologized.
Inside, Meredith greeted Thomas with the frozen smile she normally reserved for reporters.
“How lovely that you could join us.”
“You invited me.”
“Callie insisted.”
Meredith touched his sleeve.
“You must be very proud of her. She has adapted remarkably well to our world.”
“She had a world before meeting your son.”
Meredith’s smile thinned.
Simon approached and extended his hand.
“Thomas.”
Thomas looked at the hand but did not take it.
“Where is Callie?”
“Getting dressed.”
“I’d like to see her.”
“She’ll be down soon.”
Thomas noticed two security guards positioned near the staircase. They did not belong to the usual staff.
His phone vibrated.
A message from Callie’s hidden number appeared.
The drive is still in the chocolate mold. Simon took my purse and car keys. I’ll get it during the egg hunt.
Thomas replied:
Do not risk yourself for the drive. Come to the east garden at 12:15.
Callie did not answer.
At noon, guests gathered outside while children searched for eggs across the lawn. Thomas remained near the terrace, watching every door.
At 12:13, he saw Callie through an upstairs window.
She wore a cream sweater and dark jeans rather than the formal dress Meredith had chosen. She looked toward the garden, saw her father, and placed one hand against the glass.
Then Simon appeared behind her.
He pulled the curtains closed.
Thomas moved toward the house.
A guard stepped into his path.
“Mr. Vale requested that guests remain outside during the egg hunt.”
“My daughter is inside.”
“She will join you shortly.”
Thomas continued walking.
The guard placed one hand in front of him.
Thomas looked at the hand until the man lowered it.
“I suggest you call Simon,” Thomas said. “Tell him Thomas Miller is coming inside.”
Something in his voice made the guard step aside.
Inside the mansion, Thomas heard raised voices from the second floor.
Callie shouted, “Give me my phone.”
Simon answered, but Thomas could not understand the words.
Then a door slammed.
Thomas climbed the staircase.
Meredith emerged from the dining room holding a wine glass.
“You cannot wander through private areas.”
“Where is Callie?”
“She and Simon are having a marital discussion.”
Thomas moved past her.
Meredith caught his arm.
“You have encouraged enough disobedience.”
Thomas slowly looked down at her hand.
She released him.
At the far end of the hall, Callie appeared near the service stairs. She held a small silver drive in one hand.
“Dad!”
Simon rushed after her.
Callie turned toward the main staircase, but one of the security guards blocked the lower landing.
Thomas moved forward.
“Let her go.”
Simon stopped.
For a moment, husband and father stared at one another across the hallway.
Then Simon smiled.
“Callie isn’t leaving. She is unwell.”
“I’m not unwell,” Callie said. “You forged the reports.”
Meredith entered behind Thomas.
“Callie, you’re embarrassing yourself.”
Callie looked at her mother-in-law.
“You used my name to steal millions.”
The color left Meredith’s face.
Simon lunged for the drive.
Callie pulled away and ran downstairs.
Thomas followed, calling her name.
She reached the living room, where the Easter decorations had been prepared for the afternoon gathering. The guests remained outside, separated from the house by closed glass doors.
Simon caught up with her beside the Persian rug.
“Give it to me,” he said.
“No.”
“You have no idea what you’re doing.”
“I know exactly what I’m doing. I’m leaving.”
Simon looked toward the doors, then lowered his voice.
“You walk out of this house, and your father loses everything.”
Callie held up the drive.
“You already planned to hurt him.”
Simon’s expression changed.
Thomas was only seconds away when the lights in the hallway suddenly went dark.
Someone had disabled the interior security system.
In the confusion, Thomas heard Callie cry out.
By the time the emergency lights flickered on, she was lying on the rug.
The Easter basket had overturned beside her.
Simon stood several feet away.
May you like
And Meredith calmly lifted her wine glass.
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