Chapter 10: The Sister Who Buried the Truth
Martha didn't sleep that night.
She sat at her kitchen table with David's photograph in front of her and her phone beside it. Every few minutes, she picked up the phone and reread the threatening message.
*ASK YOUR SISTER WHAT HAPPENED TO EMILY'S MOTHER.*
Susan.
Her little sister.
The girl who used to climb into Martha's bed during thunderstorms. The woman who had held her hand at David's funeral. The person who had brought groceries when Martha was too heartbroken to cook.
How could Susan have been involved?
At six thirty the following morning, someone knocked.
Martha opened the door.
Clint stood outside holding two coffees.
“Morning.””
“You're becoming a regular visitor.””
“I'm considering asking for a key.””
Despite everything, Martha smiled.
Clint stepped inside and noticed the untouched photograph.
“Still thinking about Susan?””
Martha nodded.
“I remember when David was born. Susan was sixteen. She held him for the first time and cried because she said he was the most beautiful baby she'd ever seen.””
Clint placed the coffees on the table.
“People can love someone and still make terrible choices.””
“She wouldn't hurt David.””
“I hope you're right.””
Martha looked at him.
“Do you think Rachel knows where Susan is?””
Clint took out his phone.
“Michael called Benny last night. He found her address.””
Martha stood immediately.
“Let's go.””
Susan lived in a large two-story house on the edge of town.
The lawn was perfectly trimmed. Flowerpots lined the front steps, and a white Mercedes sat in the driveway.
Martha recognized the curtains.
She had helped Susan choose them years earlier.
She knocked.
No answer.
She knocked again.
Finally, the door opened.
Susan stood there wearing a cream-colored cardigan and pearl earrings.
Her smile appeared automatically.
“Martha! What a surprise.””
Then she noticed Clint.
The smile disappeared.
“What is he doing here?””
Martha held up the photograph of David and Emily.
“I want to talk about my son.””
Susan looked at the photograph.
Her face changed for less than a second.
Then she stepped aside.
“Come in.””
The living room smelled of lavender and expensive furniture polish.
A framed family photograph stood on the mantelpiece. Susan, Martha, David, and Michael were smiling together at a summer barbecue.
Martha remembered that day.
David had grilled hamburgers while Susan complained about the smoke.
She sat down.
“Who is Emily?””
Susan placed a cup of tea on the table.
“I have no idea.””
Martha looked at her.
“Don't lie to me.””
Susan sighed.
“David made mistakes. We all know that.””
“He had a daughter?””
Susan's fingers tightened around the teapot.
“Perhaps.””
“Where is the child's mother?””
“I wouldn't know.””
Clint leaned forward.
“Your voice is on David's final hospital recording.””
Susan looked at him.
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
“We heard you tell someone to turn it off.””
Susan set the teapot down.
“You have no right to bring confidential hospital recordings into my home.””
Martha stood.
“You told me David died instantly.””
Susan looked at her sister.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“From what?””
“From the truth.””
Martha's voice rose.
“Then tell me the truth!””
Susan's eyes hardened.
“David was destroying his family.””
Clint shook his head.
“By protecting his daughter's trust?””
Susan ignored him.
“He was making accusations against Laura. He was threatening to expose people. He didn't understand what he was doing.””
Martha stared at her.
“He was dying.””
Susan looked away.
“Yes.””
“And he wanted to see me.””
Susan's lips tightened.
“He was very confused.””
“No. He was asking for his mother.””
Susan suddenly slammed her hand against the table.
“Because he always thought you could fix everything!””
The room went silent.
Martha stared at her younger sister.
Susan continued, her voice shaking.
“David thought he could come crying to you, and you'd make everything disappear. He never understood that the world doesn't work that way.””
Clint stood.
“Careful.””
Susan turned toward him.
“Stay out of this.””
Martha slowly picked up her handbag.
“I want to know about Emily's mother.””
Susan said nothing.
“Was she David's girlfriend?””
“No.””
“Then who was she?””
Susan looked toward the hallway.
For the first time, Martha noticed a small child's backpack hanging beside the coat rack.
It had a yellow raincoat tucked into the side pocket.
The same yellow raincoat from the photograph.
Martha pointed.
“Is Emily here?””
Susan stepped in front of the hallway.
“No.””
“Then why is her backpack here?””
Susan's face went white.
Clint moved toward the hallway.
Susan grabbed his arm.
“Don't.””
He gently removed her hand.
“I'm not here to hurt anybody.””
A small voice came from upstairs.
“Grandma Susan?””
Susan froze.
A little girl appeared at the top of the stairs.
She was around nine years old, with dark curls and a tiny scar above her eyebrow.
Martha looked at her.
The resemblance to David was unmistakable.
The girl's eyes widened when she saw the photograph in Martha's hand.
“That's my daddy.””
Martha's breath caught.
She looked at Susan.
“Who is this child?””
Susan closed her eyes.
“Her name is Emily.””
Martha took one step forward.
“I'm her grandmother?””
Susan nodded.
“Yes.””
Martha began crying.
Emily came down the stairs slowly.
“Are you Grandma Martha?””
Martha dropped to her knees.
“Yes, sweetheart.””
Emily studied her face.
“Mom said you didn't know about me.””
Martha held out her hands.
“I didn't.””
The little girl walked into her arms.
Martha hugged her carefully, breathing in the smell of children's shampoo and laundry detergent.
For the first time in twelve years, she felt David's presence in a way she couldn't explain.
Then Emily whispered something.
“Grandma?””
“Yes?””
“Mom said Daddy didn't want me.””
Martha pulled back.
Her eyes filled.
“Your daddy wanted you more than anything.””
Emily began crying.
Susan turned away.
Clint watched her.
“Now we're getting somewhere.””
Martha looked up.
“Where is Emily's mother?””
Susan swallowed.
Then she whispered:
“She's dead.””
Martha's arms tightened around Emily.
“What?””
“She died two years ago.””
Clint's expression hardened.
“How?””
Susan didn't answer.
Emily looked down.
“Mom got sick.””
Martha kissed the child's forehead.
“What's your mother's name, sweetheart?””
Emily answered quietly.
“Anna.””
Susan's face crumpled.
“Anna was the woman David loved before he met Laura.””
Martha looked at her.
“And you knew?””
Susan nodded.
“I helped him find a place for Anna and Emily after he married Laura. He wanted to keep them safe.””
Clint frowned.
“Why did they need protection?””
Susan stared at the floor.
“Because Laura knew about them.””
Martha felt her stomach turn.
“What did Laura do?””
Susan began crying.
“She threatened to take Rachel away if David kept sending money to Anna. She told him she'd destroy him.””
“And you helped her?””
Susan looked up.
“I thought I was keeping the family together.””
Clint's voice became cold.
“You helped keep a dying man away from his mother.””
Susan covered her face.
“I know.””
Martha held Emily closer.
Then the little girl reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
“Mom gave me this before she died.””
Martha opened it.
It was a small photograph of David holding a newborn baby.
On the back was a message.
Emily, your daddy loved you. If anyone ever tells you otherwise, ask Grandma Martha about the blue house.
Martha stared at the words.
“The blue house?””
Susan looked up sharply.
“No.””
Clint turned toward her.
“What?””
Susan shook her head.
“Don't go there.””
“Why?””
“Because that's where David kept the original documents.””
Martha stood slowly.
“What documents?””
Susan looked at Emily.
May you like
Then at Martha.
“The ones Laura thought she'd destroyed.””
