Chapter 6 - The Woman in the Photograph
The words stayed in the room.
Your real mother.
Rachel couldn't breathe.
She looked at Margaret.
"Say that again."
Margaret remained silent.
Rachel stepped closer.
"You just said she's my real mother."
Margaret nodded.
Rachel shook her head.
"No."
"Rachel..."
"No."
She backed away.
"My father was Daniel."
"Yes."
"And you were my mother."
Margaret's eyes filled with something Rachel couldn't identify.
"Not by blood."
Rachel laughed in disbelief.
"Then what was I?"
Margaret's voice softened.
"Mine."
That answer made everything worse.
Rachel stared at her.
"You took me."
Margaret flinched.
"That's not what happened."
"Then what happened?"
Margaret looked toward Vanessa.
Vanessa shook her head.
"Tell her."
Margaret's expression hardened.
"You stay out of this."
Rachel raised her voice.
"Tell me!"
Silence.
Finally Margaret said, "Evelyn couldn't care for you."
"Why?"
"She was sick."
"How?"
Margaret hesitated.
"She was unstable."
Rachel immediately noticed the vagueness.
"What does that mean?"
Margaret didn't answer.
Rachel turned toward Vanessa.
"Is that true?"
Vanessa looked down.
"Not exactly."
Rachel's heart sank.
"Then tell me."
Vanessa said, "Evelyn was fighting for custody."
Rachel stared.
"Of me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because she said Mom had lied."
"About what?"
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
"About everything."
Margaret snapped, "Enough."
Rachel turned toward her.
"What did you lie about?"
Margaret's face became cold.
"Your father was afraid Evelyn would take you."
"That doesn't answer me."
"He made a choice."
"What choice?"
Margaret looked away.
Rachel whispered, "What did Dad do?"
Margaret didn't answer.
Vanessa did.
"He signed the papers."
Rachel stared at her.
"What papers?"
"The guardianship papers."
"The ones I found?"
Vanessa nodded.
Rachel looked at Margaret.
"Why did Dad sign them?"
Margaret's voice trembled.
"Because he believed he was protecting you."
Rachel shook her head.
"From Evelyn?"
Margaret said nothing.
Rachel picked up the old photograph.
"Where is she now?"
Neither woman answered.
Rachel's voice became quieter.
"Where is my mother?"
Margaret closed her eyes.
"She's alive."
Rachel's heart stopped.
"Where?"
Margaret opened her eyes.
"I don't know."
Vanessa immediately looked at her.
"Mom."
Margaret snapped, "I don't."
Rachel noticed the hesitation.
"You do know."
"No."
"Then why did you hesitate?"
Margaret turned away.
Rachel followed.
"You know where she is."
Margaret said nothing.
Rachel reached for her phone.
"I'm going to find her."
Margaret turned sharply.
"You don't understand what you're doing."
"I understand that my mother is alive."
"She isn't the person you think she is."
Rachel stared.
"Neither are you."
She walked out.
Behind her, Vanessa whispered.
"Rachel."
Rachel stopped.
Vanessa said, "Before you find Evelyn, find out what happened to your father."
Rachel turned.
"Why?"
May you like
Vanessa looked terrified.
"Because Evelyn wasn't the only person who disappeared."
