Chapter 4: The Necklace That Belonged to My Mother
I couldn't stop staring at the photograph.
The little girl standing beside Melissa was wearing a silver heart-shaped necklace. It was identical to the one my mother had worn for as long as I could remember.
But that wasn't possible.
My father had told me that necklace was buried with her.
I remembered the day of my mother's funeral. I was nine years old, wearing a black suit that felt too big for my body. I remembered standing beside her coffin, holding my father's hand while people whispered around us.
I remembered him telling me that Mom had been buried wearing her favorite silver necklace.
So why was it around the neck of a little girl in a photograph taken three years ago?
"Dad," I whispered, "who is that child?""
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
He sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the photograph as though it had become something dangerous.
"I don't know.""
"Then why does she have Mom's necklace?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Maybe it isn't the same necklace.""
I shook my head.
"It is. Look at the little heart. There's a tiny scratch on the left side. Mom used to tell me she got it when she dropped it against the kitchen counter.""
I took the photograph from him and examined it closely.
The necklace had a small engraving on the back.
Even through the blurry image, I could recognize the shape.
It was a letter J.
My mother had told me it stood for Jaylen.
She had given it to herself when I was born.
"She gave that necklace to me," I said quietly.
"She promised I could have it when I turned sixteen.""
My father looked up.
"She told you that?""
I nodded.
"She said it was the most important thing she owned.""
Daniel stood and walked toward the window.
For a long time, he didn't speak.
Then he said something that made my chest tighten.
"Your mother had a sister.""
I frowned.
"I thought she was an only child.""
"That's what I told you.""
"Why?""
He turned around.
"Because they hadn't spoken in years.""
I waited.
"Her name was Evelyn. They had a complicated relationship. After your mother died, I tried contacting her, but she refused to speak to me.""
"What does that have to do with Melissa?""
Daniel looked down at the photograph.
"I don't know. But I think we need to find Robert.""
My uncle Robert.
My mother's older brother.
The man who had appeared in the old photograph.
I had barely seen him since I was little. The last time I remembered him visiting, he brought me a wooden toy airplane and spent an entire afternoon teaching me how to make paper planes.
Then, suddenly, he disappeared from our lives.
My father always said Robert had moved away.
"Can we call him?"" I asked.
Daniel nodded.
"I'll try.""
He took out his phone and searched through his contacts.
After a few seconds, he found a number.
He pressed call.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then someone answered.
"Hello?""
My father froze.
"Robert?""
There was a long silence.
Then a man's voice replied.
"Daniel. I was wondering how long it would take you.""
My father looked at me.
"What does that mean?""
"It means you finally found something you weren't supposed to find.""
Daniel gripped the phone.
"Robert, I need to ask you about Melissa.""
The voice on the other end became quiet.
Then Robert said, "Is Jaylen with you?""
"Yes.""
"Put me on speaker.""
My father did.
"Uncle Robert?"" I said.
For a moment, I heard nothing.
Then his voice softened.
"Jaylen? My goodness. How big you've gotten.""
I almost smiled.
"Why haven't you visited?""
He exhaled.
"That's a long story, kid.""
"Is Melissa wearing my mother's necklace?""
The silence returned.
This time, it lasted longer.
Finally, Robert spoke.
"Where did you get that photograph?""
"Dad received it in a message.""
"Then someone has started playing games.""
My father stepped forward.
"Robert, stop speaking in riddles. Who is the girl in that photograph?""
Robert took a deep breath.
"Her name is Lily.""
"Who is she?""
"Melissa's daughter.""
Daniel stared at the phone.
"Melissa has a daughter?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't she tell me?""
"Because she wanted you to believe she had no ties to her previous life.""
My father sat down.
"How old is Lily?""
"Eleven.""
I did the math.
Melissa had married my father three years ago.
Lily would have been eight at the time.
"Where is she now?"" I asked.
Robert's voice softened again.
"That's the question I've been trying to answer.""
My father stood abruptly.
"What do you mean?""
"Melissa told everyone that Lily was living with relatives in another state. But that wasn't true.""
"Then where is she?""
Robert hesitated.
"Before I answer, Daniel, you need to understand something. Melissa didn't marry you because she fell in love with you.""
My father's jaw tightened.
"Then why?""
"Because of your wife.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"My mother?""
"Yes, Jaylen.""
Robert continued.
"Your mother discovered something about Melissa years ago. Something that could have destroyed her reputation and possibly sent her to prison.""
My father stood completely still.
"What did she discover?""
Robert lowered his voice.
"Your mother was preparing to tell you something before she died.""
I looked at him.
"What?""
But Robert didn't answer.
Instead, he said, "I need to see you both. Tomorrow. Don't tell Melissa.""
Daniel nodded.
"Where?""
"The old diner on Riverside. Ten in the morning.""
"Fine.""
"And Daniel?""
"Yes?""
"Don't let Melissa know that you've seen that photograph.""
The call ended.
I looked at my father.
For the first time, he seemed genuinely frightened.
"Dad, what happened to Mom?""
He stared at the phone.
"I don't know, son.""
Then he placed a hand on my shoulder.
"But we're going to find out.""
That night, I heard my father moving around downstairs.
I went to get a glass of water and found him sitting at the kitchen table, surrounded by old photographs and documents.
He was looking at my mother's wedding album.
"Can't sleep?"" I asked.
He looked up.
"Neither can you.""
I sat opposite him.
He pushed a photograph toward me.
It showed my mother standing in front of a hospital, holding a newborn baby.
Me.
But behind her stood Melissa.
My heart stopped.
"Why is she there?""
Daniel stared at the picture.
"I was hoping you could tell me.""
I picked it up.
Melissa was younger, her hair shorter, but there was no mistaking her face.
She was standing beside my mother with one hand resting on her shoulder.
They looked almost like friends.
"Did Mom know her?""
My father slowly shook his head.
"She told me she had never met Melissa before we were introduced.""
I looked closer.
On the back of the photograph, someone had written a date.
It was two days after I was born.
And beneath the date were five handwritten words.
*She promised she would protect him.*
I looked at my father.
"Who wrote this?""
He took the photograph from me.
His face changed.
Because he recognized the handwriting.
It belonged to my mother.
And just then, the security system notification appeared on his phone.
Someone had entered the house.
The front door had opened.
At 1:17 a.m.
Daniel looked toward the hallway.
"That's impossible," he whispered.
I stood.
"Maybe Melissa came back?""
He checked the security app.
Then his fingers stopped.
The camera showed a person standing in our kitchen.
Wearing a black coat.
Holding a key.
But it wasn't Melissa.
It was Uncle Robert.
And he was looking directly at the camera.
May you like
Then he raised one finger to his lips.
As if telling us to stay quiet.
