Chapter 8: The Child Nobody Buried
Nobody spoke.
Even Vivian seemed unable to breathe.
I looked at my father.
"What did you just say?""
Robert straightened his cardigan.
"Your grandmother had another daughter. A little girl. She was born years after Vivian was given away.""
Rachel shook her head.
"That isn't possible.""
"Why not?""
"Because Mom never told us.""
"Your mother didn't tell you everything.""
Vivian's face had turned almost gray.
"Robert, you're lying.""
He looked at her.
"Am I?""
She stepped toward him.
"You promised.""
The words came out before she could stop herself.
I stared at her.
"What did he promise?""
Vivian didn't answer.
My father looked almost satisfied.
"Ask her.""
I turned toward Vivian.
"What happened to the baby?""
She backed away.
"Nothing.""
"Then why did Dad say she was murdered?""
"Because he wants you to believe anything that makes me look guilty.""
Lily moved closer to Rachel.
I noticed her hands trembling.
"Vivian," she whispered.
"Did you hurt someone?""
Vivian's expression changed immediately.
"Oh, Lily. No. Never.""
"Then tell us the truth.""
Vivian looked toward the window.
Outside, the lake was completely still.
Finally, she spoke.
"Her name was Anna.""
My heart pounded.
"How old was she?""
"She was three.""
Rachel covered her mouth.
"Mom had a three-year-old daughter?""
Vivian nodded.
"Margaret had her after she remarried. She kept her hidden from the rest of the family because she was afraid Robert would find out.""
I looked at my father.
"How did you know?""
He shrugged.
"Your mother told me eventually.""
"Why would she hide her own child?""
"Because she didn't trust anyone.""
Vivian laughed bitterly.
"She trusted me.""
Robert looked at her.
"Until you betrayed her.""
Vivian's eyes filled.
I stepped forward.
"What happened to Anna?""
She looked at me.
"One night, she disappeared.""
"Disappeared?""
"She was sleeping in the lake house. Margaret went downstairs for a few minutes. When she returned, the child was gone.""
Rachel stared at her.
"Who took her?""
Vivian didn't answer.
Robert did.
"Vivian.""
The room went silent.
I felt my hands curl into fists.
"You took a three-year-old child?""
Vivian shook her head.
"I didn't hurt her.""
"Did you take her?""
"I only wanted to scare Margaret. I wanted her to understand what it felt like to lose someone.""
Rachel slapped her.
The sound cracked through the room.
"You monster!""
Vivian touched her cheek.
"I was angry!""
"She was a child!""
"I know!""
For the first time, Vivian screamed.
"I know what I did!""
Lily backed away.
I wanted to grab Vivian and force her to tell us where Anna was.
Instead, I asked the only question that mattered.
"Where is she?""
Vivian looked at Robert.
He shook his head.
"Don't.""
She laughed through her tears.
"You're still protecting yourself.""
Robert's expression darkened.
"Think about your future.""
"My future?""
Vivian turned toward him.
"You promised me we would never have to talk about Anna again.""
I stared at my father.
"What did you do?""
He didn't answer.
Vivian continued.
"Robert arranged everything. He told me the child had been taken somewhere safe. He said Margaret would eventually accept the loss.""
"Where was she taken?""
"I don't know.""
I stepped closer.
"You're lying.""
"I'm not!""
"Then why did you say you wanted to scare Mom?""
Vivian looked down.
"Because I didn't know what would happen after I handed her over.""
The words landed like a stone.
I grabbed the edge of the desk.
"Handed her over to whom?""
Vivian shook her head.
"Robert said someone would take care of her.""
My father suddenly moved toward the metal box.
I blocked him.
"Don't touch it.""
He looked at me with open contempt.
"You've always been sentimental, Daniel. That's your problem.""
"Where is Anna?""
"She's gone.""
"Dead?""
He said nothing.
"Is she dead?""
Robert stared at me.
Then he replied:
"Your mother believed she was.""
I felt something collapse inside my chest.
Rachel began crying.
Lily stood beside the window, staring at the floor.
Then she noticed something.
"Wait.""
We turned.
She was holding the photograph of Margaret and Vivian.
"There's writing on the back.""
She placed it on the desk.
We leaned closer.
Underneath the message about the baby, there was another line written in faint pencil.
Anna knows where the truth is.
I frowned.
"What does that mean?""
Lily turned the photograph over again.
"Maybe Anna survived.""
Vivian suddenly reached for it.
I caught her wrist.
"Don't.""
She struggled.
"Give it to me!""
"Why?""
"Because you don't understand!""
Rachel grabbed Vivian's other arm.
Lily stepped back.
My father watched the scene without moving.
Then a phone rang.
Not mine.
Not Rachel's.
Vivian's.
She looked at the screen.
Her face changed.
I saw the name.
ANNA.
Vivian dropped the phone.
It hit the floor, and the call continued ringing.
Nobody moved.
Then Lily bent down and picked it up.
She looked at the screen.
"Who is Anna?""
Vivian began shaking.
"Don't answer it.""
Lily looked at her.
"Why?""
"Please.""
The phone stopped.
A message appeared.
I know you're at the lake house.
Another followed.
Tell Margaret I'm ready to talk.
My heart nearly stopped.
"Who's sending these?""
Vivian covered her mouth.
Then she whispered:
"Anna.""
I picked up the phone.
The contact had no photograph.
Only a number.
I pressed call.
It rang twice.
A woman's voice answered.
"Vivian?""
I swallowed.
"My name is Daniel Bennett.""
Silence.
Then the woman said:
"Margaret's son?""
"Yes.""
Her breathing became uneven.
"Is my mother there?""
I looked at Vivian.
"She's not.""
A pause.
"Then I suppose I'll have to tell you myself.""
"Tell me what?""
The woman spoke quietly.
"Your mother didn't lose me.""
I gripped the phone.
"Then what happened?""
"She gave me away to protect you.""
My blood ran cold.
"Protect me from whom?""
The woman took a shaky breath.
"From Robert.""
I looked at my father.
His face had gone completely expressionless.
Then the woman added:
"Daniel, there's something you need to know about your birth.""
I closed my eyes.
"What?""
"You weren't supposed to survive either.""
The call ended.
For several seconds, the only sound in the room was the wind moving through the trees outside.
Then Rachel whispered:
"Daniel...""
I turned toward her.
She was staring at the hospital bracelet we'd found earlier.
The one with my name.
The one that had been placed in the box beside the documents about Lily.
She picked it up.
"There are two numbers on this.""
I looked.
One was my hospital identification number.
The other was a handwritten code.
B-17.
Lily moved closer.
"What's B-17?""
My father finally spoke.
"An old medical designation.""
I looked at him.
"From which hospital?""
He didn't answer.
Then Vivian began crying.
"Robert, please. Don't do this again.""
I turned toward her.
"Do what?""
She looked at me.
"Your mother didn't give Anna away.""
May you like
Her voice broke.
"She gave you away.""
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