Chapter 5 - The Name That Had Been Erased
Rachel sat on the basement floor for nearly ten minutes.
She couldn't move.
She couldn't think.
She simply stared at the document.
The name on it was unfamiliar.
Evelyn Carter.
Mother.
Rachel whispered the name.
"Evelyn."
She had never heard it.
Not once.
She searched her memories.
Family photographs.
Birthdays.
Christmas dinners.
School forms.
Her mother had always been Margaret.
Her father had always been Daniel.
There had never been an Evelyn.
Rachel photographed the document.
Then she heard footsteps upstairs.
She froze.
Someone was in the house.
Rachel quietly closed the locker.
She turned off the basement light.
The footsteps continued.
Slow.
Measured.
Someone walked into the dining room.
Rachel held her breath.
The person stopped.
Then a voice called out.
"Rachel?"
Vanessa.
Rachel stepped out of the basement.
"What are you doing here?"
Vanessa looked surprised.
"I could ask you the same."
"This is my house."
"Not completely."
Rachel stared at her.
"What does that mean?"
Vanessa sighed.
"You found the documents."
Rachel's expression hardened.
"What documents?"
Vanessa looked toward the basement.
"You always were terrible at pretending."
Rachel stepped closer.
"Who is Evelyn?"
Vanessa's face changed.
For the first time, Rachel saw fear in her sister's eyes.
"You shouldn't have opened that."
"Who is she?"
Vanessa shook her head.
"Ask Mom."
"I did."
"And?"
"She refused to answer."
Vanessa looked away.
Rachel said, "Then you answer."
"I can't."
"You knew about this."
"Yes."
"How long?"
Vanessa didn't answer.
Rachel's voice became quieter.
"How long?"
"All my life."
Rachel felt as if the floor had shifted beneath her.
"You knew my entire life was built on a lie?"
Vanessa looked at her.
"You think I wanted it this way?"
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because every time I tried, Mom reminded me what would happen."
"What would happen?"
Vanessa swallowed.
"She said she'd take everything."
Rachel stared at her.
"Everything?"
"The house. The money. Lily. Me."
Rachel shook her head.
"Mom couldn't take Lily."
Vanessa looked at her strangely.
"Couldn't she?"
Rachel went silent.
Vanessa reached into her purse.
She pulled out an old photograph.
She handed it to Rachel.
Rachel looked down.
A young Margaret stood beside a woman Rachel had never seen.
Evelyn.
Between them was a little girl.
Rachel.
Rachel's hands began shaking.
"I don't remember her."
"You were four."
"Why?"
Vanessa looked away.
"Because Mom made sure you wouldn't."
Rachel stared at her sister.
"What happened?"
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
"That is the question I've been afraid you'd ask for years."
Rachel stepped closer.
"Tell me."
Vanessa opened her mouth.
Then the front door slammed.
Both women turned.
Margaret stood in the doorway.
Her face was expressionless.
"Vanessa."
Vanessa went pale.
Margaret looked at Rachel.
"You need to leave."
Rachel held up the photograph.
"Who is Evelyn?"
Margaret stared at it.
May you like
Then she said something Rachel never expected.
"Your real mother."
