Chapter 6 - The Envelope Behind the Dryer)
Charles had spent the morning at a law office.
Emma learned that because she found the business card in his shirt pocket while helping him collect laundry later that afternoon.
Margaret Holden, Family Law.
Emma held up the card.
Charles took it from her.
"You should stop searching people's pockets."
"You should stop making everything suspicious."
For once, he almost smiled.
It disappeared immediately.
"Vanessa knows I found Olivia's letters."
"I know."
"She also knows I know about the fake signature."
Charles sat at the kitchen table.
"Emma, don't say things you can't prove."
"Is it fake?"
He looked away.
"Grandpa."
"I don't know."
"Do you believe Olivia signed it?"
Silence.
That was enough.
Emma sat across from him.
"What did the lawyer say?"
Charles rubbed his eyes.
"That six years of mistakes do not disappear because I finally decide to be brave."
"That's not an answer."
"She said I need the original court file."
"For Lily's adoption?"
"For the guardianship first."
"What happened?"
Charles inhaled slowly.
"When Olivia went into treatment, she signed temporary guardianship to Vanessa."
"I know."
"Three months."
"I know."
"Then Vanessa filed for emergency permanent guardianship."
"Why?"
"She claimed Olivia had abandoned Lily."
"But Olivia came back."
"Yes."
"So you knew that was false."
Charles stared at his hands.
"Yes."
Emma felt anger rising.
"Then why didn't you tell the judge?"
Charles's voice nearly disappeared.
"Because Vanessa showed me something."
"What?"
"A psychiatric report."
"Olivia's?"
"Yes."
"It said she was dangerous?"
"It said she had made statements about hurting herself."
Emma was silent.
Charles continued.
"I was terrified."
"So you chose Vanessa."
"I thought I was choosing Lily."
"Did you ever ask Olivia's doctor?"
"No."
"Did you ask Olivia?"
"I tried."
"You told her to leave."
His eyes filled with shame.
"I did."
Emma stood and walked toward the sink.
She needed distance.
Behind her Charles said, "Vanessa told me Olivia had stopped treatment."
"Was that true?"
"No."
Emma turned.
"You found out?"
"Years later."
"And you still did nothing."
He absorbed the accusation.
"Yes."
Lily had entered silently from the hallway.
Charles saw her.
His face fell.
"Lily."
She looked at him.
"You picked Mom."
Charles shook his head.
"I thought I was protecting you."
"From Liv."
"From what I thought might happen."
Lily stared at him.
Then she walked away.
Charles did not follow.
Emma did.
She found Lily inside the laundry hallway.
The girl had pulled the loose baseboard away again.
"What are you doing?"
"There was another one."
"Another letter?"
Lily nodded.
"I saw Mom hide it yesterday."
Emma crouched.
Together they reached behind the wall.
No envelope.
But Emma's fingers touched something plastic.
She pulled out a clear document sleeve.
Inside was a folded paper and a photograph.
The photograph showed Olivia holding newborn Lily in a hospital bed.
Olivia looked exhausted.
She also looked happy.
On the back someone had written:
My first morning with Lily.
The paper was a photocopy of a birth certificate.
Mother: Olivia Marie Carter.
Father: Matthew James Reed.
Emma had never heard that name.
She turned the document over.
Inside the plastic sleeve was a second piece of paper.
A letter.
Not from Olivia.
From a law office.
It was addressed to Vanessa.
Emma read it.
The attorney stated that Olivia Carter had challenged the validity of an adoption consent and claimed her signature had been falsified.
The letter was dated five years earlier.
Emma's mouth went dry.
"What does it say?" Lily asked.
"It means Olivia tried to fight."
"Did she lose?"
Emma kept reading.
The attorney warned Vanessa that if the signature was proven fraudulent, the adoption could be overturned.
But there was another paragraph.
The firm had withdrawn from representing Olivia after she unexpectedly failed to appear at two scheduled hearings.
Emma frowned.
Why would Olivia fight for Lily and then vanish?
She turned the page.
At the bottom, handwritten in Vanessa's writing, were five words.
She finally understood the threat.
Emma heard a sound behind her.
Vanessa stood in the doorway.
She looked at the documents.
Then at Emma.
"Give me that."
Emma stood.
"No."
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Lily, go downstairs."
Lily moved behind Emma.
Vanessa's voice sharpened.
"Now."
"No," Lily whispered.
Vanessa's face tightened.
Emma lifted the letter.
"What threat?"
Vanessa stopped.
"Where did Olivia go?"
"Give me the papers."
"What did you threaten her with?"
Vanessa rushed forward.
Emma shoved the papers behind her waistband and grabbed Lily's hand.
They ran.
Vanessa followed.
Emma reached the staircase.
Charles appeared below.
"What's happening?"
"She found more papers," Vanessa shouted.
Charles looked at Emma.
"Give them to me."
Emma laughed in disbelief.
"You too?"
"No. Emma, listen."
"Why should I?"
"Because I can keep them safe."
Vanessa came closer.
"She's stealing private legal records."
Emma pulled out the attorney letter.
"Olivia challenged the adoption."
Charles froze.
Vanessa lunged.
Emma jumped backward.
Charles moved between them.
"Stop."
Vanessa shoved him.
At sixty seven, Charles nearly lost his balance.
Emma caught his arm.
Everyone went silent.
Charles slowly straightened.
He looked at Vanessa.
Something in his face changed.
"You pushed me."
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
"Oh, please."
"You pushed your father," Emma said.
"Stay out of it."
"No."
Vanessa pointed toward Emma.
"You have been poisoning this house since you arrived."
Emma laughed.
"I've been here four weeks. What's your excuse for the other six years?"
Vanessa turned toward Charles.
"Make her give me the documents."
Charles looked at Emma.
Then at Vanessa.
"No."
Vanessa went completely still.
"What?"
Charles held out his hand to Emma.
"Give them to me."
Emma hesitated.
"Why?"
"Because I'm taking them to my lawyer."
Vanessa stared at him.
"You wouldn't."
Charles looked at his daughter.
His voice shook.
"I should have done it six years ago."
Vanessa's expression became almost calm.
Then she said quietly, "You remember what happens if Olivia comes back."
Charles froze.
Emma looked between them.
"What does that mean?"
Vanessa smiled.
"Ask your grandfather why Olivia missed those hearings."
Then she walked upstairs.
Charles collapsed into a chair.
Emma stared at him.
"What did she do?"
Charles did not answer.
"What happened to Olivia?"
May you like
He looked toward the stairs.
And for the first time, Emma realized the secret might be larger than a forged signature.
