Chapter 7: The Grandmother Who Came Back
Nobody moved.
Not me.
Not my mother.
Not the stranger standing on my doorstep.
The only sound was the ticking clock on the wall.
A normal sound.
A cruel sound.
Because nothing about my life was normal anymore.
Rebecca looked at Darla.
“You told her I was dead?””
My mother looked terrified.
“I thought you were.””
Rebecca laughed softly.
It wasn’t a happy laugh.
It was the kind someone made when they had spent years carrying a wound.
“You hoped I was.””
“Don’t.””
“After everything you did, you don’t get to tell me not to speak.””
I looked between them.
“Someone explain.””
Neither woman answered.
“Now.””
Rebecca looked at me.
“I’m your father’s mother.””
My breath caught.
“My father’s?””
“Yes.””
I looked at Darla.
She looked away.
“Mom?””
Rebecca stepped inside.
“Your mother never told you about me.””
“No.””
“Of course she didn’t.””
Darla’s voice shook.
“Rebecca, please.””
“No.””
Rebecca faced her.
“Your daughter deserves the truth.””
I crossed my arms.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
My voice cracked.
“But nobody actually gives it.””
Rebecca softened.
“I know.””
She reached into her bag.
She pulled out an old photograph.
She handed it to me.
A young man smiled in the picture.
I knew him.
Not personally.
But I had seen his face.
In old family photos.
“My father.””
Rebecca nodded.
“His name was Thomas.””
I stared.
“He was my father.””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t I know you existed?””
Rebecca looked at Darla.
“Because she made sure you didn’t.””
My mother closed her eyes.
“Stop.””
“Tell her.””
“I was protecting her.””
“You were controlling her.””
The words hit hard.
Because they sounded familiar.
I looked at my mother.
“Is that true?””
She whispered:
“Yes.””
I sat down.
My legs suddenly couldn’t hold me.
“Why?””
Darla sat across from me.
“When you were born, Thomas wanted to take responsibility.””
Rebecca nodded.
“He did.””
“But I was scared.””
“Of what?””
My mother’s eyes filled.
“I had already lost everything once.””
“What does that mean?””
She looked at Rebecca.
“Before you were born, I believed Thomas left me.””
Rebecca shook her head.
“He didn’t.””
“He chose his wife.””
“He chose his child.””
My mother looked away.
“And I hated him for it.””
The confession sat between us.
Ugly.
Heavy.
Real.
“You kept me away from my family because you were angry?””
“No.””
“Then why?””
Darla looked at me.
“Because after Thomas died, I found out he left evidence.””
“Evidence?””
“Letters.””
My heart pounded.
“What letters?””
“Letters saying he wanted to know you.””
Rebecca nodded.
“He tried to contact her.””
“And you stopped him?””
My mother didn’t answer.
She didn’t have to.
I stood.
“You stole my family from me.””
Tears fell down Darla’s face.
“I thought I was saving you.””
“You keep saying that.””
“Because I believed it.””
I looked at Rebecca.
“Why now?””
She took a breath.
“Because Cole contacted me.””
I froze.
“Cole?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Months ago.””
My stomach tightened.
“So he knew about you too?””
Rebecca nodded.
“He was searching for answers.””
“And he found you.””
“Yes.””
I laughed quietly.
“Everyone knew.””
Nobody spoke.
Everyone knew.
Everyone except me.
Rebecca reached for my hand.
I pulled away.
Not because I hated her.
Because I didn’t know where to put another person’s truth.
“I need air.””
I walked outside.
The sky was gray.
Rain started falling.
A few seconds later, my phone rang.
Cole.
I almost ignored it.
Then I answered.
“What?””
His voice sounded desperate.
“Emma.””
“What?””
“I found the missing document.””
My heart tightened.
“What document?””
“The one my father hid.””
“And?””
Silence.
“Cole.””
He whispered:
“It proves why your mother was so afraid.””
Rain hit the pavement harder.
“What does it prove?””
His voice broke.
“That your baby isn’t connected to my father.””
I closed my eyes.
Relief.
Confusion.
Fear.
All at once.
“Then what?””
A pause.
Then:
“It proves the baby is connected to someone else.””
I gripped the phone.
“Who?””
Cole didn’t answer immediately.
When he did, his voice was barely above a whisper.
“Emma…”
May you like
“What?””
“The biological father of your baby is someone we never suspected.””
