Chapter 9 - Evelyn Comes Home
Evelyn entered the ballroom at 11:40 p.m.
She wore a simple black dress.
No jewelry.
No smile.
The guests turned.
Michael stopped breathing.
Margaret whispered:
“You.”
Evelyn looked at her.
“Hello, Mother.”
Margaret's face hardened.
“You weren't invited.”
“I know.”
“Then leave.”
Evelyn looked at Caroline.
“No.”
Caroline stepped forward.
“Why are you here?”
Evelyn's expression softened.
“To tell you something before they do.”
Michael moved between them.
“Evelyn, this isn't the time.”
She laughed.
“It became the time when you married her.”
Caroline stared.
Evelyn looked at Michael.
“You promised me you wouldn't hurt her.”
Michael said nothing.
“You promised.”
Margaret interrupted.
“Enough.”
Evelyn turned toward her.
“You always say that when the truth gets inconvenient.”
Margaret's face tightened.
Caroline asked:
“What happened to my father?”
The ballroom fell silent again.
Evelyn looked at her.
“I can't tell you everything.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't have all of it.”
“Then tell me what you know.”
Evelyn glanced at Michael.
“He wasn't responsible for the missing money.”
Caroline's breath caught.
“I know.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“You don't know how much.”
Caroline waited.
“Your father discovered something.”
“What?”
“He discovered that someone inside the Harper organization had been moving money through shell companies.”
“Who?”
Evelyn looked at Margaret.
Margaret whispered:
“Don't.”
Caroline's eyes widened.
“Was it her?”
Evelyn didn't answer.
Michael stepped forward.
“Evelyn, leave.”
“No.”
He moved closer.
“Please.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“You still don't understand.”
“Understand what?”
“That I'm not the one who should be afraid.”
Caroline looked between them.
“Who should be?”
Evelyn reached into her handbag.
She pulled out a small envelope.
She handed it to Caroline.
“Your father left this.”
Caroline stared.
“When?”
“Before he died.”
“Why didn't I get it?”
“Because it wasn't safe.”
“For whom?”
Evelyn looked at Michael.
“For you.”
Caroline opened the envelope.
Inside was a single handwritten note.
She read the first line.
Then her hands began to shake.
Michael stepped forward.
“Don't read that.”
Caroline looked up.
“Why?”
He said nothing.
She read the next line.
Then the next.
Her face changed.
Evelyn watched her.
“What does it say?” Grace asked.
Caroline couldn't answer.
She folded the paper.
“What?”
Caroline looked at Michael.
“My father knew you.”
Michael closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Before you were born.”
May you like
Caroline's voice became barely audible.
“And he wrote your name in this letter.”
