Chapter 13 - The Dinner They Should Never Have Held)
Walter wanted to cancel the retirement dinner.
Elaine refused.
For once, Rachel agreed with Walter.
Thomas did too.
But Walter made a strange argument.
"If Renn is watching us, canceling tells him we're afraid."
Rachel stared.
"We are afraid."
"Then maybe it's time he stops knowing that."
The dinner went ahead.
Security was discreetly positioned outside.
Rachel planned to stay only an hour.
Daniel promised there would be no speeches about her.
The promise lasted thirty-seven minutes.
Elaine began it.
She raised her glass.
"To Walter, who spent forty years building something meaningful."
Rachel saw Walter flinch.
Elaine continued.
"And to family members who understand that contribution requires effort."
Daniel looked at his mother.
"Mom."
Elaine smiled.
"What? I didn't name anyone."
Brooke shifted uncomfortably.
Rachel continued eating.
A relative asked Rachel whether she planned to return to "real employment."
Brooke opened her mouth.
Rachel touched her hand.
"It's okay."
Daniel had already been drinking.
Too much.
He was angry at his mother.
Angry at himself.
Angry at Walter.
And because he had never learned how to aim shame inward, it escaped in the wrong direction.
Elaine said, "Daniel always carried more than his share."
Rachel quietly replied, "That's one interpretation."
Daniel heard.
"What does that mean?"
Rachel looked at him.
"Nothing."
He laughed.
"There it is."
Rachel's stomach sank.
Brooke whispered, "Dad."
He ignored her.
"The mystery. The secrets. The disappearing."
Rachel set down her fork.
"Daniel, not tonight."
"Why not?"
Walter said, "Son."
Daniel suddenly slammed his wineglass onto the table.
"Because I'm tired of pretending!"
The room froze.
He pointed at Rachel.
"You're a fucking embarrassment to this family!"
Rachel stared.
Daniel heard himself.
Too late.
Brooke, nervous and conditioned by years of following his cues, laughed.
"She doesn't even work. She's a deadbeat."
The silence afterward was worse.
Brooke's smile disappeared immediately.
Rachel looked at her.
Brooke went pale.
"Rachel, I..."
Daniel grabbed Rachel's plate and pushed it away.
"Maybe start earning your damn place before eating at my family's table."
Even Elaine looked surprised.
Rachel slowly stood.
She looked at Daniel.
Not angry.
Finished.
"You really want to do this in front of everyone?"
Daniel's face changed.
He knew he had crossed something.
Before he could answer, the front door slammed open.
Thomas Whitaker entered with Lily, Mason, and Ava.
Walter stood.
"Thomas Whitaker?"
The children ran.
"RACHEL!"
They wrapped themselves around her.
Ava started crying.
"We missed you!"
Daniel looked stunned.
Thomas approached.
"Did you just call the woman who saved my children a deadbeat?"
Daniel turned pale.
"Saved them from what?"
Rachel whispered, "Thomas, don't."
Thomas placed a thick sealed file on the table.
"No, Rachel. Your husband deserves to know why you've been disappearing every Tuesday and Thursday."
Daniel took the file.
Rachel grabbed his wrist.
"If you open that, you're going to learn something about me you can never take back."
Daniel looked at her.
Then opened it.
He read.
Photographs.
Hospital files.
Mercer House records.
The old photograph.
And then Walter turned pale.
Because Thomas had included something Rachel had never seen.
A letter.
Written by Emily.
Dated eleven days earlier.
Walter recognized the handwriting.
Rachel took it.
Her hands shook.
The letter contained only two sentences.
RACHEL, IF YOU ARE READING THIS, RENN KNOWS CLAIRE IS MY DAUGHTER.
DO NOT TRUST ANYONE WHO WAS AT THE HOUSE THE NIGHT WE ESCAPED.
Rachel looked around the table.
Walter had been there.
Thomas's father had been there.
Harold had been there.
Renn had been there.
Then Walter whispered, "There's someone else."
Rachel turned.
"Who?"
May you like
Walter looked toward Elaine.
Elaine's face went white.
