Chapter 5 - The Name Nobody Used)
The next morning Charles disappeared before breakfast.
Vanessa said he had gone to a doctor's appointment.
Emma did not believe her.
By noon, he still had not returned.
Emma used the time to read every letter Olivia had written.
The story emerged slowly.
After Lily's birth, Olivia had entered a residential treatment program.
Vanessa promised to care for Lily for three months.
Charles supported the arrangement.
Olivia signed a temporary authorization.
Two months later, Olivia received a message from Vanessa claiming Lily was thriving and that Olivia should focus on recovery.
Then communication became more difficult.
Calls went unanswered.
Messages stopped delivering.
When Olivia returned to Pennsylvania, Vanessa refused to let her see Lily.
Olivia hired an attorney.
Then something happened.
The letters became less specific.
One said:
I know what you threatened to tell the judge.
Another said:
Dad, I need you to tell the truth about the papers.
And another:
I never signed the consent Vanessa filed.
Emma read that sentence five times.
Lily sat beside her on the bedroom floor.
"What's consent?"
"It means permission."
"Permission for what?"
Emma hesitated.
"For Vanessa to become your legal mom."
Lily looked down.
"Did Liv give permission?"
"I don't think so."
"Then why did Grandpa?"
Emma had no answer.
At three that afternoon, someone knocked on the front door.
Vanessa was upstairs.
Emma opened it despite Lily's rule.
An elderly woman stood outside holding a covered pie.
"Emma?"
Emma recognized her vaguely.
"Mrs. Donnelly?"
The woman smiled.
"You remember me."
She had lived next door to Charles for decades.
"I heard you were visiting."
Emma let her inside.
Mrs. Donnelly looked around.
"Where's your grandfather?"
"Out."
"And Vanessa?"
"Upstairs."
The old woman's smile faded slightly.
"How is Lily?"
Emma's instincts sharpened.
"Why?"
Mrs. Donnelly studied her.
"That's an interesting answer."
Emma lowered her voice.
"Did you know Olivia?"
Mrs. Donnelly went very still.
"Why are you asking?"
"Because everyone else lies."
The woman looked toward the stairs.
"Maybe we should sit outside."
They carried the pie to the backyard.
Lily followed.
Mrs. Donnelly watched her approach.
Her face softened.
"My goodness."
Lily hid slightly behind Emma.
Mrs. Donnelly crouched.
"You look exactly like her."
Lily whispered, "Liv?"
Mrs. Donnelly's eyes filled.
"Yes."
Emma sat across from her at the patio table.
"Tell me what happened."
Mrs. Donnelly hesitated.
"Your grandfather should."
"He won't."
"He may have reasons."
"Are they good reasons?"
Mrs. Donnelly looked toward the house.
"No."
The answer was immediate.
Emma leaned forward.
"Was Olivia a bad mother?"
"She was barely a mother long enough for anyone to know."
"What does that mean?"
"She had a terrible time after Lily was born. She couldn't sleep. She cried constantly. She became frightened of being alone with the baby because she thought she might make a mistake."
"Vanessa says she was dangerous."
Mrs. Donnelly shook her head.
"She was ill. There is a difference."
"Did she leave Lily?"
"Temporarily."
"Did she come back?"
Mrs. Donnelly looked at Lily.
"Yes."
Emma's heart pounded.
"What happened?"
"I was gardening the day Olivia returned."
"When?"
"Lily was maybe four months old."
Lily listened silently.
"Olivia came up the driveway carrying a duffel bag and a stuffed rabbit. Vanessa met her on the porch."
"What did they say?"
"I couldn't hear everything."
"But?"
"I heard Olivia say, 'She's my daughter.'"
Emma glanced at Lily.
Mrs. Donnelly continued.
"Vanessa wouldn't let her inside."
"Where was Grandpa?"
"Inside."
Emma felt sick.
"He didn't come out?"
"Eventually."
"What did he do?"
Mrs. Donnelly looked ashamed for him.
"He told Olivia to leave."
Lily's face crumpled.
Emma reached for her hand.
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"Did Olivia?"
"She screamed that Vanessa had lied to him."
"And then?"
"Charles closed the door."
Lily stood abruptly.
She ran toward the house.
Emma caught her before she reached the steps.
"Lily."
"He didn't want me either."
"No."
"He sent her away."
"We don't know why."
"Yes we do."
Her voice cracked.
"He picked Mom."
Emma hugged her.
Behind them Mrs. Donnelly wiped her eyes.
Then the patio door opened.
Vanessa stepped outside.
She saw Mrs. Donnelly.
Her expression froze.
"What are you doing here?"
The elderly woman stood.
"Visiting."
"You're not welcome."
"Vanessa," Emma said.
Mrs. Donnelly lifted one hand.
"It's fine."
She turned to Emma.
"Your mother used to ask questions too."
Vanessa's face hardened.
Mrs. Donnelly walked toward the side gate.
Before leaving, she looked back.
"That's why Sarah never trusted what happened."
Emma stared after her.
Her mother.
Sarah had known something.
Vanessa closed the gate hard.
Then she faced Emma.
"Stay away from that woman."
"Why?"
"She loves gossip."
"She says Mom didn't trust you."
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
"Your mother is dead."
Emma felt the words like a slap.
Vanessa continued.
"Don't use her memory to fight battles you don't understand."
Emma stepped closer.
"Did you forge Olivia's signature?"
For the first time, Vanessa lost control of her expression.
It lasted less than a second.
But it was enough.
Emma knew.
Vanessa smiled again.
"You should be careful, Emma."
"Why?"
"Because you're a child living in my father's house."
"It's Grandpa's house."
"Exactly."
Vanessa looked toward the driveway.
Charles's car had returned.
"And your grandfather has always done what I needed him to do."
Emma watched Charles step from the car.
He looked at Vanessa.
Then at Emma.
And Emma suddenly understood something she had missed.
May you like
Vanessa was not afraid that Charles would expose her.
She believed Charles belonged to the secret too.
