Chapter 7 - THE BROTHER WHO FINALLY BROKE
Ryan arrived at Emily's house that night.
He looked terrible.
Daniel stood near the door.
Emily didn't invite Ryan inside.
“You have ten minutes.”
Ryan nodded.
“I deserve that.”
Emily was surprised.
“What happened to you?”
Ryan looked down.
“Mom told me to keep lying.”
Emily stared at him.
“About what?”
Ryan swallowed.
“Dad.”
The name hung between them.
Emily's voice became quiet.
“What about Dad?”
Ryan looked toward Daniel.
“I need to tell you something.”
Daniel said,
“Then tell her.”
Ryan closed his eyes.
“Dad didn't die when Mom said he did.”
Emily couldn't breathe.
“What?”
“He left.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
“You knew?”
“I was young.”
“How young?”
“Fourteen.”
Emily stared at him.
“You were fourteen and I was sixteen.”
Ryan nodded.
“What did Mom tell you?”
“That Dad abandoned us.”
“And?”
Ryan looked at her.
“I found out years later that he kept sending money.”
Emily's hands curled into fists.
“How much?”
“A lot.”
“Where did it go?”
Ryan's eyes filled with tears.
“Mom.”
Emily felt sick.
“She kept his money?”
“Yes.”
“And mine?”
Ryan nodded.
“But not because she hated you.”
Emily laughed bitterly.
“That makes it better?”
“No.”
Ryan reached into his jacket.
He pulled out an old envelope.
“I found this in Mom's safe.”
Emily took it.
Her father's handwriting covered the front.
Emily Whitmore.
Open only when you are ready to know the truth.
She stared at the envelope.
“Why didn't you give this to me before?”
Ryan looked ashamed.
“Because Mom found out I had it.”
“What happened?”
“She threatened to destroy everything.”
Emily looked at him.
“She already did.”
Ryan shook his head.
“No.”
He pointed toward the envelope.
“You don't understand.”
“What?”
Ryan's voice dropped.
“Dad didn't leave because he wanted to.”
Emily opened the envelope.
Inside was one letter.
And one photograph.
The photograph showed her father standing beside Jonathan Reed.
On the back, someone had written:
If they ever tell you I abandoned you, don't believe them.
Emily looked at Ryan.
“Who is Jonathan?”
Ryan whispered,
“Dad's lawyer.”
Emily stared at the photograph.
Then she noticed something else.
A second person stood behind them.
A woman.
Partially hidden.
Emily zoomed in.
May you like
Her heart dropped.
It was Diane.
