Chapter 15 - The Man Behind the Door
Rachel stood at the bottom of the stairs holding the photograph.
Vanessa remained behind her.
Neither spoke.
The man in the photograph had appeared in Rachel's life before.
Not as family.
Not as a friend.
As a stranger.
A man she had seen once outside the courthouse.
A man who had watched her from across the street when she was younger.
A man who had disappeared whenever she tried to approach him.
Rachel whispered his name.
"Thomas."
Vanessa looked at her.
"You know him?"
"I've seen him."
"Who is he?"
Rachel looked toward the open front door.
Nobody was standing there.
Sarah was gone.
Rachel ran outside.
The street was empty.
She looked left.
Then right.
Nothing.
Her phone vibrated.
One message.
You finally found him.
Rachel typed.
Who is Thomas?
The reply came.
Ask Margaret.
Rachel called her mother.
No answer.
She called again.
Still nothing.
Then a message arrived from Margaret.
Come alone.
Rachel stared at it.
Vanessa grabbed her wrist.
"Don't."
Rachel shook her head.
"I need answers."
"That's what she wants."
"Maybe."
Rachel looked at the photograph.
"But this time I'm not going there for her."
She drove to the old family property.
Margaret was standing in the garden.
She looked older than she had that morning.
Rachel stepped out of the car.
"Where is Thomas?"
Margaret's face changed.
"So you found his photograph."
"Who is he?"
Margaret looked away.
"Your father."
Rachel froze.
"No."
"Not Daniel."
Rachel felt her heart pound.
"Then who?"
Margaret whispered.
"Thomas."
Rachel stared.
"Why did everyone tell me Daniel was my father?"
"Because Daniel agreed to take the truth to his grave."
"Why?"
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
"Because he loved you."
Rachel shook her head.
"That isn't enough."
"No."
Margaret looked at her.
"It isn't."
Rachel stepped closer.
"Tell me everything."
Margaret opened her mouth.
Then stopped.
A car pulled into the driveway.
Sarah stepped out.
Rachel turned.
Sarah looked at Margaret.
Then at Rachel.
"I think it's time."
Margaret whispered.
"No."
Sarah approached.
"You've kept her from the truth long enough."
Rachel looked between them.
"What happened the night I was born?"
Sarah took a breath.
"I gave birth to you."
Rachel looked at Margaret.
Margaret nodded.
"And Thomas?"
Sarah said.
"Your biological father."
Rachel closed her eyes.
Everything she had believed was gone.
Then Sarah continued.
"But there is one thing you still don't know."
Rachel opened her eyes.
"What?"
Sarah looked toward Margaret.
Margaret whispered.
"Tell her."
Sarah's voice shook.
"Thomas wasn't the man who arranged for you to disappear."
Rachel frowned.
"Then who did?"
Neither woman answered.
Rachel looked from one to the other.
Then she noticed something.
Margaret was crying.
Not from fear.
From guilt.
Rachel whispered.
"Mom?"
Margaret finally spoke.
"The person who took you wasn't a stranger."
Rachel's heart stopped.
"Who?"
Margaret looked toward the house.
"Someone you have trusted your entire life."
Rachel turned toward the front door.
It slowly opened.
A figure stood inside.
Rachel couldn't see the face.
Then the person stepped forward.
Rachel's phone vibrated.
A new message appeared.
Don't trust the person standing behind you.
Rachel's eyes widened.
May you like
She slowly turned.
And the story ended before she could see who was there.
