Chapter 6: The Woman in the Photograph
I couldn't stop staring at the name.
Sarah Whitmore.
My aunt.
My biological mother.
The words didn't fit together.
They sat on the page like pieces from two different lives.
I looked at my mother.
“You adopted me from your sister?””
She nodded.
“Why?””
She didn't answer.
I looked at my father.
“Why?””
He walked toward the window.
“Because Sarah couldn't raise you.””
“That's not an answer.””
“She was sick.””
“What kind of sick?””
My father remained silent.
Brandon spoke.
“She wasn't sick.””
My mother looked at him.
“Brandon.””
“She was afraid.””
“Of what?””
Brandon looked at our father.
“Of him.””
My father slammed his fist against the window frame.
“Enough.””
Detective Harris stepped between them.
“Mr. Coleman, sit down.””
Richard turned.
“You don't know anything about this family.””
“No,” Detective Harris said.
“That's why I'm listening.””
Brandon sat beside me.
He looked older than the brother I remembered.
But his eyes were the same.
“I found Sarah's letters in 2004,” he said.
“What letters?””
“Letters she sent Dad.””
“Why?””
“She wanted you back.””
My throat tightened.
“Back?””
“You were four when she asked.””
I looked at the photograph.
The little girl standing beside the Christmas tree.
Me.
Four years old.
“So she knew where I was?””
“She knew you were alive.””
“Did she see me?””
Brandon shook his head.
“Not after the adoption.””
“Why?””
“Dad told her you were better off.””
I looked at my father.
“Was I?””
He said nothing.
I stood.
“Was I better off?””
Still nothing.
My voice broke.
“You want to know what I remember?””
My father finally turned.
“I remember being afraid of you.””
He lowered his eyes.
“I remember hearing your footsteps.””
“I was a strict father.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You were violent.””
My mother whispered, “Emily…”
I turned toward her.
“And you protected him.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“You protected the person hurting me.””
She covered her face.
Brandon placed a hand on the table.
“There was another reason.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
“Sarah didn't just want you back.””
He paused.
“She wanted to expose Dad.””
My father's expression changed.
Brandon continued.
“She knew what he had done.””
“What had he done?””
“Before you were born.””
My heart started racing.
My father stared at his son.
“Don't.””
Brandon ignored him.
“Sarah discovered Dad had been stealing money from his company.””
My mother shook her head.
“That's not why.””
Brandon looked at her.
“You knew?””
She nodded.
“He wasn't just stealing.””
I looked between them.
“What was he doing?””
My mother began crying.
“Your father was covering debts.””
“What debts?””
“Gambling.””
The word landed heavily.
I stared at Richard.
He looked away.
My mother continued.
“He lost almost everything.””
“When?””
“Before you were born.””
“And Sarah knew?””
“Yes.””
“What happened?””
My mother closed her eyes.
“She threatened to tell the police.””
My father finally spoke.
“She was going to ruin us.””
I laughed once.
“You mean she was going to expose you.””
“She didn't understand.””
“What did she understand?””
“That people like us don't survive scandal.””
I stared at him.
“You were willing to destroy your own sister to protect your reputation?””
He didn't answer.
Brandon did.
“He framed her.””
My mother gasped.
“Brandon.””
I looked at him.
“For what?””
“Fraud.””
My stomach twisted.
“Did she go to prison?””
“No.””
“Then what happened?””
“She disappeared.””
“When?””
“Three weeks before your adoption was finalized.””
I looked at my father.
“You knew where she went.””
He didn't respond.
“Dad.””
Nothing.
“Where did she go?””
My father sat down.
His shoulders seemed suddenly much older.
“I don't know.””
Brandon laughed bitterly.
“You always say that.””
Detective Harris looked at Brandon.
“You do?””
“Every time.””
Brandon reached into the box again.
This time he removed an envelope.
“Sarah sent this.””
“To whom?””
“To me.””
My hands shook.
“When?””
“Two weeks ago.””
I stared at him.
“Two weeks ago?””
He nodded.
“She found me.””
My heart slammed against my ribs.
“She's alive?””
Nobody spoke.
I grabbed his arm.
“She's alive?””
“Yes.””
I stumbled backward.
My mother began crying harder.
“Where is she?””
Brandon looked at our father.
“That's the problem.””
“What do you mean?””
“She disappeared again.””
“When?””
“Yesterday.””
My blood went cold.
“Why?””
“She called me after seeing the news about Ava.””
I looked at him.
“She saw what happened?””
“Yes.””
“What did she say?””
Brandon's expression changed.
“She said Richard had finally done it in front of witnesses.””
I couldn't speak.
“What did she mean?””
Brandon looked at the floor.
“She said she had spent thirty-six years waiting for the truth to become impossible to bury.””
My mother whispered, “Oh God.””
I looked at her.
“What did she know?””
“She knew everything.””
“What everything?””
My mother's face crumpled.
“Emily…”
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“You don't get to stop now.””
She looked at me.
“You asked why Sarah gave you to us.””
“Yes.””
“Because she believed your father would kill her.””
My breath caught.
“But she wanted you safe.””
I shook my head.
“Then why did she leave me with him?””
“She didn't know what he would become.””
“That's convenient.””
“It isn't.””
My mother wiped her eyes.
“Your father promised he would protect you.””
I looked at him.
“And he did?””
“No.””
Her voice cracked.
“He changed.””
I stared at my father.
“Why?””
He looked at me.
And for the first time, there was no anger in his face.
Only exhaustion.
“Because you reminded me of her.””
“Sarah?””
He nodded.
“You had her eyes.””
I felt tears fill mine.
“So you hated me because I looked like my mother.””
“I didn't hate you.””
“You hurt me.””
“I was angry.””
“You hurt Brandon.””
“He betrayed me.””
“You hurt Ava.””
He looked down.
“She disrespected me.””
The words were so familiar that something inside me finally snapped.
I picked up the belt from the evidence bag Detective Harris had placed on the table.
I held it between us.
“This is what you call discipline.””
My father stared at it.
“This is what I call a pattern.””
Detective Harris took the belt from my hand.
“We'll be keeping that.””
My father didn't protest.
That frightened me more than his anger.
Then my phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
A text.
*Emily, it's Sarah.*
My heart stopped.
Another message appeared.
*I know what your father did to Brandon.*
Then another.
*But that's not the secret you need to worry about.*
I stared at the screen.
Daniel called.
I answered immediately.
“Daniel?””
His voice was breathless.
“Emily, where are you?””
“At my parents' house.””
“Come back to the hospital.””
“What happened?””
“Ava woke up.””
Relief flooded through me.
“She did?””
“Yes.””
I closed my eyes.
“Is she okay?””
“She asked for you.””
“I'll be there.””
“Emily…”
Something in his voice made me pause.
“What?””
“There was a woman here.””
My blood went cold.
“What woman?””
“She said her name was Sarah.””
I couldn't breathe.
“What did she do?””
“She left something for you.””
“What?””
Daniel hesitated.
“A photograph.””
“Of what?””
“Ava.””
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
“The photo was taken yesterday.””
I stared at the message on my phone.
Sarah's name glowed on the screen.
Daniel continued.
“Emily, someone photographed our daughter before the party.””
I looked slowly toward my father.
He was watching me.
And suddenly I understood why Sarah had warned me.
This wasn't only about what happened twenty-two years ago.
Someone had been watching Ava.
Someone had known exactly where she would be.
May you like
Then Sarah sent one final message.
*Ask your father who told him where your daughter would be standing.*
