Chapter 4: The Envelope My Wife Wanted to Hide
I ran upstairs so fast I nearly missed the last step.
Lily was standing beside her bed, clutching the stuffed rabbit she'd slept with since her mother died. Her face was wet, and one hand was pressed against her chest.
"What happened, sweetheart?""
She pointed toward the open bedroom door.
"Emma was in here.""
I looked around.
Her drawers were open. Several books had been knocked onto the floor. The small wooden box containing her mother's photographs sat on the bed, its contents scattered across the blanket.
"Where is Emma?""
"She went downstairs.""
I knelt beside Lily.
"Did she hurt you?""
Lily shook her head.
"She took something.""
"What?""
"The envelope.""
My stomach tightened.
I glanced at the wooden box.
The brown envelope Tara had shown me in the photograph was missing.
"Was it your mother's?""
Lily nodded.
"Mom gave it to me before she died. She told me I wasn't supposed to open it until I was older.""
I sat back on my heels.
"How did you get it?""
"It was inside the lining of the little box. I found it last month. I didn't know what it was, so I kept it there.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Her eyes filled again.
"Because Tara said I wasn't allowed to keep secrets from her.""
I gently brushed her hair away from her forehead.
"Sweetheart, you are allowed to have private memories of your mother.""
She looked at me.
"Even if Tara doesn't like it?""
"Even then.""
I stood and examined the room.
The envelope wasn't simply missing. Someone had deliberately searched through Lily's belongings.
I found a small piece of paper underneath the bed.
It was a handwritten note.
Stop hiding things that don't belong to you.
There was no signature.
But I recognized the handwriting.
Emma's.
I folded the note and slipped it into my pocket.
Then I took Lily downstairs.
Tara was standing near the kitchen island. Emma sat on the sofa, scrolling through her phone.
"Where is the envelope?"" I asked.
Tara didn't turn around.
"I have it.""
"Give it to me.""
"Not until we discuss what Lily has been doing.""
I stepped closer.
"She's twelve. You searched her bedroom and took something belonging to her dead mother.""
Tara placed the envelope on the counter but kept her hand over it.
"She stole it from my desk.""
"She found it in her mother's belongings.""
"That doesn't mean she can keep whatever she wants.""
I reached for the envelope.
Tara pulled it back.
"Marcus, listen to me. There are things inside that you should know before Lily starts spreading stories.""
I stared at her.
"What stories?""
She looked toward Emma.
"Go upstairs, honey.""
Emma stood immediately.
"But Mom—"
"Now.""
Emma walked away, deliberately brushing against Lily's shoulder.
Lily flinched.
I saw it.
And something inside me hardened.
"Don't touch her," I said.
Emma stopped.
"I didn't do anything!""
"Then go upstairs without making this worse.""
She disappeared.
Tara finally released the envelope.
I examined it.
My name was written across the front in Rachel's familiar handwriting.
For Marcus. Only if something happens to me.
My fingers went cold.
I looked at Tara.
"Have you opened this?""
"No.""
"Then why are you so afraid of what's inside?""
She folded her arms.
"Because I know Rachel. She never liked me.""
"She's been dead for two years, Tara.""
"Exactly. And somehow she still manages to interfere with our marriage.""
I looked at the envelope again.
The seal had already been broken.
Someone had opened it.
I carefully pulled out the contents.
There were three things inside.
A handwritten letter.
A photograph of Rachel holding Lily as a baby.
And a small USB drive.
I unfolded the letter.
Marcus,
If you're reading this, then something happened before I had the chance to explain everything.
I need you to understand that I didn't leave Lily's future to chance.
I made arrangements with someone I trusted. Someone who knows what I was afraid of.
If Lily ever tells you she feels unwanted, please don't dismiss it. I have spent years worrying about whether the people around her will love her the way she deserves.
There's something I need you to find out about Tara.
I stopped reading.
Tara moved closer.
"Give me that.""
I raised my eyes.
"Why?""
"Because it's private.""
"Rachel addressed it to me.""
"She was manipulating you even before she died.""
I continued reading.
I found out something shortly before the accident. I didn't confront anyone because I wasn't sure who I could trust.
But I kept copies of everything.
Marcus, please check the USB drive before you make any decisions about Lily's future.
And whatever happens, don't let anyone convince our daughter that she is disposable.
Love always,
Rachel.
I lowered the letter.
The kitchen was silent.
Tara's face had changed.
She wasn't angry anymore.
She looked frightened.
"What did Rachel mean by that?"" I asked.
Tara shook her head.
"How should I know?""
"She mentioned something she found out about you.""
"She was suspicious of everyone. You know that.""
I picked up the USB drive.
"Then you won't mind if I look at it.""
Tara stepped forward.
"Marcus, don't.""
That was all I needed to hear.
I slipped the drive into my pocket.
"Why?""
"Because whatever is on there could be misleading.""
"How would you know?""
She opened her mouth, then closed it.
I looked at the envelope.
There was something else inside.
A business card.
It belonged to a woman named Evelyn Price.
Underneath her name were the words:
*Family Law Attorney — Estate and Child Guardianship.*
On the back, Rachel had written a phone number and one sentence.
She knows the truth about the original agreement.
I stared at the card.
"What agreement?""
Tara grabbed her purse.
"I'm leaving.""
"You're not answering my question.""
"I don't owe you an interrogation.""
She walked toward the front door.
Then stopped.
Without turning around, she said, "You should ask yourself why Rachel waited until she was dying to tell you any of this.""
The door slammed.
Lily stood beside the staircase, clutching her stuffed rabbit.
I walked toward her.
"Sweetheart, everything is going to be okay.""
She looked at the envelope in my hand.
"Did Mom write something bad?""
"No.""
I knelt.
"Your mother wanted to make sure you were protected.""
Lily's lips trembled.
"Protected from what?""
I didn't know.
Not yet.
But when I examined the USB drive again, I noticed a tiny label attached to it.
Rachel had written two words in black ink.
*Tara's payments.*
May you like
And suddenly, I wasn't just wondering what my wife had done to my daughter.
I was wondering what she had done before Lily ever came to live with us.
