Chapter 2: My Mother's Secret
I didn't sleep again that night.
I lay beside Rachel, listening to her breathe, wondering how long I had been sharing a bed with someone who could look me in the eyes and lie without blinking.
At 6:30 a.m., she woke, kissed my forehead, and asked whether I wanted scrambled eggs.
I almost laughed.
Instead, I told her I had an early meeting.
She smiled.
"Drive safely, sweetheart.""
I watched her from the bedroom doorway as she went downstairs.
Then I waited.
At 8:15, Rachel left for the grocery store.
She kissed Mom's cheek before walking out.
"I'll be back in an hour. Don't forget your medicine.""
The front door closed.
I immediately went downstairs.
Mom was sitting in her usual chair, holding an old photograph of my father.
"Mom," I said quietly.
"We need to talk.""
She looked up.
For a moment, she seemed unsure whether to trust me.
Then she placed the photograph on the table.
"Is Rachel gone?""
"Yes.""
"Did you hear anything last night?""
I froze.
"What do you mean?""
Mom looked directly at me.
"About Michael.""
I sat beside her.
"Mom, tell me exactly what you saw.""
She took a shaky breath.
"It happened three weeks ago. I couldn't sleep because my knees were hurting. I came downstairs around midnight to get some water.""
She paused.
"The guest bedroom door was open.""
My parents' old guest bedroom was at the end of the hallway. Michael sometimes stayed there when he visited, particularly after drinking too much.
"What did you see?""
"Rachel.""
Mom's voice broke.
"She was coming out of that room.""
I waited.
"Michael was inside?""
She nodded.
"His shirt was unbuttoned. Rachel was holding her shoes. When she saw me, she nearly screamed.""
My jaw tightened.
"Did they say anything?""
"Michael told me he had been looking for an old document. Rachel said they were discussing something about your birthday.""
"At midnight?""
Mom shook her head.
"I knew they were lying.""
She reached for my hand.
"Daniel, I raised two sons. I know Michael's face. I know when he's ashamed.""
I felt sick.
"Why didn't you tell me immediately?""
"I tried.""
She looked toward the hallway.
"Rachel came into my room the next morning. She said if I told you, she would explain that I was imagining things.""
I stared at her.
"She threatened you?""
Mom nodded.
"She said people would think I was losing my mind. She said the doctor had already noticed my confusion.""
I stood up so quickly that the chair scraped against the floor.
"I'll call Michael.""
Mom grabbed my wrist.
"No!""
"Mom—"
"Please, Daniel. Listen to me.""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"There's more.""
I sat back down.
Mom reached into the pocket of her cardigan and pulled out a small folded piece of paper.
"I found this yesterday.""
It was a receipt from a hotel.
The date was three weeks earlier.
The same night she had seen Rachel leaving the guest bedroom.
But the receipt wasn't what caught my attention.
It was the name printed beneath the payment details.
Michael Carter.
And the room number.
I looked at Mom.
"Why was he at a hotel if he was here?""
She shook her head.
"I don't know. But I found another paper in Rachel's purse. It had the same hotel name.""
I stared at the receipt.
"Where is that paper?""
"She took it from me.""
"How?""
"She came into my room while I was sleeping. I woke up when she opened my bedside drawer.""
I felt something inside me break.
Rachel hadn't simply been hiding an affair.
She had been watching my mother.
Monitoring her.
Making sure she couldn't tell anyone.
"Mom, we're going to get you out of here.""
But Mom shook her head.
"Not yet.""
"Why?""
"Because I heard something else.""
She leaned closer.
"The night after I saw them, I heard Rachel speaking to Michael on the phone. She said the papers were almost ready.""
"What papers?""
Mom looked frightened again.
"I don't know. But she mentioned your father's house.""
My father's house.
The property he had left to me and Michael.
It was a small two-story home outside town, where my parents had lived for thirty-five years. After Dad died, we had agreed to keep it in the family.
Mom still owned the house.
I had never questioned that.
"Why would Rachel be involved with Dad's property?""
Mom lowered her voice.
"Because she told Michael that once the transfer was complete, nobody could stop them.""
I felt the room tilt.
"What transfer?""
"I don't know, Daniel.""
She squeezed my hand.
"But I heard your name.""
Before I could ask anything else, a car door slammed outside.
Mom's face drained of color.
"She's back.""
I stood and looked through the window.
Rachel was carrying two grocery bags.
I leaned toward Mom.
"Don't tell her we spoke.""
Mom nodded.
I returned to the kitchen and opened my laptop.
When Rachel walked in, I was looking at work emails.
"You're home?"" she asked.
"Working remotely today.""
She placed the groceries on the counter.
"That's nice. Maybe you can help me with your mother.""
I looked up.
"What's wrong?""
Rachel sighed.
"She refused her medication again.""
Mom sat silently in the living room.
Rachel lowered her voice.
"Daniel, I really think we need to consider a proper assessment. She's becoming increasingly suspicious.""
I closed my laptop.
"What kind of assessment?""
"Memory testing. Perhaps even a specialist.""
"Did her doctor recommend that?""
Rachel hesitated.
"Not officially.""
"Then let's speak to him together.""
Her expression tightened.
"There's no need to make everything difficult.""
I smiled faintly.
"Of course. I just want to make sure we're doing everything correctly.""
She studied my face.
Then she turned away.
That afternoon, I made a call from my car.
My father's old attorney, Mr. Bennett, answered after the third ring.
"Daniel Carter. It's been a while.""
"I need to ask you something about my father's property.""
"Certainly.""
I explained what Mom had told me.
There was silence on the other end.
Then Mr. Bennett asked a question that made my stomach drop.
"Daniel, has your brother contacted you about a power of attorney?""
"No.""
"Are you absolutely certain?""
"Yes. Why?""
He exhaled slowly.
"Because someone submitted documents bearing your signature two weeks ago.""
I gripped the steering wheel.
"What documents?""
"A property authorization and a medical power of attorney.""
My mouth went dry.
"Who submitted them?""
"I can't discuss every detail over the phone. But I can tell you this: the signature doesn't look right.""
I closed my eyes.
"Can you send me a copy?""
"Yes. And Daniel?""
"Yes?""
"Don't sign anything your wife or brother puts in front of you.""
I ended the call.
For several minutes, I sat motionless.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
*You need to stop asking questions about Rachel.*
Another message arrived immediately.
*Your mother isn't the only person who knows what happened in that house.*
I stared at the screen.
Then a photograph appeared.
It showed Rachel and Michael standing outside a hotel.
They were holding hands.
But behind them, reflected in the glass entrance, was another person.
Someone I recognized.
May you like
Someone who should never have been there.
My father.
