Chapter 10 - The Door That Had Always Been Locked
Rachel didn't answer.
Margaret knocked once.
"Open the door."
Vanessa whispered, "Don't."
Evelyn stood perfectly still.
Rachel looked at her mother through the narrow glass panel.
Margaret's voice softened.
"I know you're in there."
Rachel finally spoke.
"What did you do to my father?"
Silence.
Then Margaret answered.
"I didn't hurt him."
"Did you lie about his death?"
"No."
"Did you hide Evelyn from me?"
Margaret didn't answer.
Rachel's voice shook.
"Why?"
Margaret said quietly.
"Because I loved you."
Rachel closed her eyes.
"Everyone keeps using that word."
Margaret replied, "Because it's true."
Rachel looked at Evelyn.
Then at Vanessa.
She realized something.
Everyone had a different version of the truth.
And someone had been lying for decades.
Rachel opened the door.
Margaret stood alone in the hallway.
She looked at Evelyn.
For a moment, neither woman moved.
Then Margaret whispered.
"You should have stayed gone."
Evelyn answered.
"You should have told her the truth."
Margaret looked at Rachel.
"You don't understand what happened."
"Then tell me."
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
"Your father made a choice."
"What choice?"
"He chose Evelyn."
Rachel stared.
"That doesn't explain anything."
"He was going to take you away."
"Because I was his daughter."
"Because Evelyn convinced him that I was dangerous."
Rachel looked at Evelyn.
"Was she right?"
Evelyn didn't answer.
Rachel looked back at Margaret.
"What are you hiding?"
Margaret's voice dropped.
"Your father didn't die because of the trust."
Rachel froze.
"Then why?"
Margaret looked toward Evelyn.
"Because he discovered something about her."
Rachel turned.
"What?"
Evelyn's face went pale.
Margaret said, "Ask her."
Rachel looked at Evelyn.
"Mom?"
Evelyn's voice trembled.
"I didn't want you to know."
"Know what?"
Evelyn stared at the floor.
"I wasn't your father's first choice."
Rachel frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Evelyn looked up.
"It means your father and I were already separated before you were born."
Rachel went silent.
Margaret smiled sadly.
"And that is only the beginning."
Rachel stared at both women.
"Then why was I taken from her?"
Margaret said nothing.
Evelyn whispered.
"Because someone claimed I wasn't your mother."
Rachel's eyes widened.
"Who?"
Evelyn looked at Margaret.
Margaret's expression changed.
Rachel understood.
"Mom."
Margaret whispered.
"I had proof."
"Proof of what?"
"That Evelyn wasn't your biological mother."
The room fell silent.
Rachel's entire world seemed to stop.
She looked at Evelyn.
Evelyn began crying.
Rachel stepped backward.
"No."
Margaret whispered.
"You asked for the truth."
Rachel shook her head.
"You said she was my mother."
"I said she was your real mother."
Rachel stared.
"What does that mean?"
May you like
Margaret looked away.
"That depends on what you mean by real."
