Chapter 6 - Daniel's Suspicion)
Daniel began following Rachel three days later.
He told himself he was worried.
The truth was uglier.
He didn't trust her.
At seven twenty on Tuesday morning, Rachel left the house.
Daniel waited three minutes.
Then followed.
She drove to Fairview Children's Medical Center.
Daniel parked across the street.
He watched her enter through an employee entrance.
Thirty minutes later, Thomas Whitaker arrived.
Daniel's jaw tightened.
He followed.
Inside, he saw Rachel through glass doors.
She was kneeling beside Ava.
The little girl was crying.
Rachel held her hands and spoke calmly.
Mason sat nearby.
Lily leaned against Rachel's shoulder.
Thomas stood several feet away.
There was no romance.
No secret affair.
Only trust.
Daniel should have felt relieved.
Instead he felt embarrassed.
He had lived with Rachel for seven years.
These children knew a version of her he had never bothered to meet.
A nurse approached.
"Can I help you?"
"I'm Rachel Mercer's husband."
The nurse smiled.
"Oh."
Daniel noticed the reaction.
"You know her?"
"Everyone on this floor knows Rachel."
Daniel's discomfort grew.
"Why?"
The nurse looked surprised.
"You don't know?"
Before she could continue, Thomas stepped into the hallway.
"Daniel."
Daniel straightened.
Thomas dismissed the nurse politely.
Then looked at him.
"You followed her."
"She's my wife."
"That isn't an answer."
Daniel bristled.
"What exactly is she doing here?"
Thomas glanced toward Rachel.
"Something valuable."
"I'm asking you."
"And I'm telling you that if you want to understand your wife, you should probably start by listening when she speaks."
Daniel stepped closer.
"Don't lecture me about my marriage."
Thomas's expression remained calm.
"I wasn't."
That calmness irritated Daniel more.
Rachel saw them.
Her expression changed.
She walked into the hallway.
"What are you doing here?"
Daniel folded his arms.
"Trying to figure out where my wife goes twice a week."
Rachel looked at Thomas.
"I'll handle it."
Thomas nodded and walked away.
Daniel watched him.
"You trust him more than me."
Rachel didn't deny it.
That hurt.
"What do you want to know?" she asked.
"Everything."
"No."
Daniel laughed.
"Then don't ask why I'm suspicious."
"I'm not asking."
"Rachel."
She started walking.
He followed.
"You disappear. You meet a wealthy widower. His children act like you're their mother."
Rachel stopped.
"Be careful."
"Why?"
"Because they're children who nearly died."
Daniel lowered his voice.
"And apparently my father is involved in whatever secret you're hiding."
Rachel looked at him.
"That's the part you should be worried about."
Daniel paused.
"What has Dad done?"
"I don't know."
"But you think something."
"Yes."
"What?"
Rachel looked through the glass.
Ava was smiling now.
Rachel made a decision.
"Ask Walter about Mercer House."
Daniel frowned.
"What is Mercer House?"
"Exactly."
She walked away.
That evening Daniel went to his father's home.
Walter was in the garage restoring an old desk.
"Dad."
Walter looked up.
"Everything okay?"
Daniel closed the garage door.
"What is Mercer House?"
The screwdriver slipped from Walter's hand.
Daniel saw it.
And for the first time, believed Rachel completely.
"You know."
Walter turned away.
"Where did you hear that name?"
"Rachel."
Walter swore under his breath.
Daniel stepped closer.
"What is it?"
"Something from before you were old enough to understand."
"I'm forty."
"It doesn't matter."
"It matters to my wife."
Walter looked at him.
"Then let Rachel decide what to tell you."
Daniel laughed.
"So everyone knows except me?"
"No."
"Thomas Whitaker knows."
Walter's expression changed.
"You've spoken to Thomas?"
"I saw him."
Walter grabbed Daniel's arm.
"What has he found?"
Daniel stared.
"You're afraid."
Walter released him.
Daniel's voice lowered.
"What did you do?"
Walter looked older than sixty-seven.
"I made a mistake."
"What kind of mistake?"
"The kind that doesn't stop being a mistake just because you spend nineteen years trying to repair it."
Daniel felt cold.
"Does Mom know?"
"No."
"Does Rachel?"
"Not all of it."
Daniel took a step back.
Walter said, "Don't push her."
"Why?"
"Because there are memories she lost for a reason."
Daniel's anger disappeared.
"What happened to her?"
Walter's face tightened.
"She survived us."
Daniel stared at his father.
"Us?"
Walter said nothing.
May you like
Daniel left.
For the first time in his life, he was afraid of the Mercer name.
