Chapter 3: The Woman on the Other Side
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
The voice on the phone was older than the one I remembered.
Thinner.
Rough around the edges.
But there was something unmistakable about it.
The way she pronounced my name.
The tiny pause before saying sweetheart.
My mother had always spoken like that.
"Mom?""
Rachel stood up so quickly her chair scraped across the kitchen floor.
I held up one finger, telling her to stay quiet.
"Daniel," the woman whispered.
"Are you alone?""
I looked at my sister.
"Yes.""
"Is Rachel there?""
My eyes widened.
"How do you know?""
A quiet sob came through the phone.
"Because I know my children.""
I closed my eyes.
"Where are you?""
"Somewhere safe.""
"Are you alive?""
The question sounded ridiculous as soon as I said it.
But I needed to hear the answer.
"Yes, sweetheart.""
My legs weakened.
"Mom, we've been visiting your grave for twelve years.""
"I know.""
"Dad said you died.""
"I know.""
"Why?""
There was a long silence.
Then she said, "Because your father wanted the world to believe I was gone.""
I pressed my free hand against my forehead.
"Why would he do that?""
"Daniel, I don't have time to explain everything over the phone. I need you to listen.""
"Tell me where you are.""
"Not yet.""
"Mom, I deserve an explanation.""
"I know you do.""
Her voice broke.
"I have dreamed about holding you again every single night.""
I looked at Rachel.
She was crying silently.
"Then why didn't you come back?""
My mother inhaled.
"Because the first time I tried, your father threatened to destroy the lives of everyone I loved.""
I gripped the phone.
"Did he hurt you?""
"Not the way you're thinking.""
"What does that mean?""
"He took something from me, Daniel. Something I couldn't get back.""
I remembered the letter.
Never trust the woman your father says is your mother.
"Who is Vivian?""
My mother's breathing changed.
"Where did you hear that name?""
"Rachel told me.""
Another silence.
Then Mom whispered, "She's the reason I had to disappear.""
I looked at Rachel.
My sister shook her head, clearly just as shocked as I was.
"What did she do?""
"Your father will tell you that Vivian saved him. He'll tell you she helped him through the worst time of his life. He'll tell you she was my friend.""
"Was she?""
"No.""
Mom's answer was immediate.
"She was never my friend.""
I paced toward the kitchen window.
"Then who was she?""
My mother lowered her voice.
"She was the woman who helped your father plan everything.""
My stomach turned.
"Plan what?""
Before she could answer, a car horn sounded outside Rachel's house.
We both looked toward the window.
A black SUV had stopped across the street.
Rachel's face went white.
"Oh, no.""
I recognized the vehicle.
My father's.
"Mom, I have to go.""
"Daniel, listen to me. Don't confront Robert yet.""
"He's here.""
"What?""
"He's outside.""
A sharp breath came through the phone.
"Get Rachel away from him.""
"Why?""
"Because he knows about the key.""
I looked down.
The silver key was still in my pocket.
"How?""
"I don't know. But you must not let him take it.""
The front door opened.
Robert walked into the house without knocking.
He was carrying a brown paper bag.
"Rachel? I brought breakfast.""
His voice was cheerful.
Too cheerful.
I turned away from the kitchen.
"Mom, I'll call you back.""
"No, Daniel. Don't hang up.""
But I had already ended the call.
Robert entered the kitchen.
His gaze moved from me to Rachel.
Then to the phone in my hand.
"Who were you talking to?""
"Work.""
"At this hour?""
"Yes.""
He placed the bag on the counter.
"I brought your sister some pastries.""
Rachel didn't move.
Robert looked at her.
"What's wrong?""
"Nothing.""
He studied her face.
Then he looked at me.
"You're causing trouble again, aren't you?""
I forced myself to remain calm.
"What makes you say that?""
"Because Rachel looks terrified.""
"Maybe she's worried about Mom.""
The kitchen became silent.
Robert slowly took off his coat.
"Why would she be worried about Margaret?""
I held his gaze.
"Because I found her letter.""
His expression barely changed.
But his hand stopped moving.
"What letter?""
"The one she left for Rachel.""
He looked at my sister.
For a moment, I thought he might shout.
Instead, he smiled.
It was the same smile he used when business clients disappointed him.
"Rachel, sweetheart. We talked about this.""
She stepped away from him.
"Don't call me that.""
His smile disappeared.
"Excuse me?""
"You heard me.""
Robert placed his coat over a chair.
"Daniel, you need to understand something. Your mother was very unwell before she died.""
"She isn't dead.""
My father stared at me.
Then he laughed.
A short, humorless sound.
"Who told you that?""
I didn't answer.
"Was it Rachel?""
"No.""
"Then who?""
I looked directly at him.
"Someone who called me this morning.""
For the first time, my father looked genuinely frightened.
He moved toward me.
"Give me your phone.""
"No.""
"Daniel.""
"Why?""
"Because I need to know who is filling your head with this nonsense.""
I stepped back.
"You can ask her yourself.""
Robert stopped.
His lips parted slightly.
"Where is she?""
I felt a cold satisfaction.
He hadn't asked who.
He hadn't asked what woman.
He had asked where.
And that meant he knew.
"You know she's alive," I said.
Robert's face hardened.
"You're making a terrible mistake.""
"No. I think I've been making the same mistake for twelve years.""
He reached for my jacket.
I pushed his hand away.
"Don't touch me.""
Rachel moved between us.
"Stop it, Dad!""
Robert turned toward her.
"Get out of the way.""
"No.""
"Rachel, I am your father.""
"And she's my mother!""
The words exploded through the kitchen.
Robert went still.
Rachel was crying now.
"She called me too," she lied.
My father stared at her.
Then he looked at me.
"Both of you have lost your minds.""
He walked toward the counter, picked up the paper bag, and placed it in front of Rachel.
"Eat something. You're shaking.""
Then he turned to leave.
But before reaching the door, he stopped.
"Daniel?""
I didn't answer.
"If that woman contacts you again, tell her something for me.""
"What?""
Robert looked over his shoulder.
"Tell Margaret that the arrangement ended twelve years ago.""
My heart pounded.
"What arrangement?""
He opened the door.
"She knows.""
Then he left.
Rachel collapsed into a chair.
I stood motionless, trying to understand what I'd just heard.
The arrangement.
Twelve years ago.
I took my phone out and called the unknown number again.
It went straight to voicemail.
I tried a second time.
Nothing.
Then a message appeared.
Unknown number.
I'm sorry, Daniel. He found me.
Another message followed.
Don't go to the lake house alone.
I stared at the screen.
A third message arrived.
This one contained a photograph.
It showed an old wooden door beneath the porch of my parents' former lake house.
The same door I remembered from childhood.
The same place my mother's note had mentioned.
But it wasn't the door that made my blood run cold.
It was the person standing in front of it.
My mother.
Older.
Thinner.
Alive.
And beside her stood a young woman holding a baby.
I enlarged the photograph.
The young woman was Vivian.
But the baby wasn't me or Rachel.
I turned the picture over.
There were four handwritten words.
Your father has another daughter.
I looked at Rachel.
She was staring at the photograph over my shoulder.
Her lips trembled.
"Daniel," she whispered.
I turned toward her.
"What's wrong?""
She pointed at the baby.
Then she said something I had never expected to hear.
"That's not Dad's daughter.""
I frowned.
"Then whose baby is it?""
Rachel's eyes filled with tears.
She looked at me.
May you like
And whispered:
"That's your daughter, Daniel.""
