Chapter 5: The Man My Stepmother Buried
My father read the letter twice before he sat down.
Vanessa remained standing near the garage entrance, her handbag hanging from one hand. She looked as though she'd forgotten why she'd picked it up.
Mia was crying quietly beside the island.
I held my mother's letter with both hands.
Emily, if Vanessa Hayes has become part of your life, there is something you must understand about the woman she was before you met her.
Her father, Richard Hayes, contacted me shortly before my final hospital admission. He told me that Vanessa had been involved in a financial dispute concerning a family trust. He believed she had been using another person's identity to obtain access to funds.
I did not know whether his accusations were true. I knew only that he was frightened.
He asked me to keep certain documents safe. He said that if anything happened to him, Vanessa might try to recover them.
I refused to become involved until he showed me proof.
He returned the following day with a file.
The letter continued for another page, but the handwriting became shaky toward the bottom.
I have asked my attorney to keep the file separate from your education trust. If I cannot explain this to you myself, please remember that money can be replaced. Your safety matters more.
Do not accuse anyone without evidence. Find the original documents first.
And if Richard's daughter ever asks you about the file, tell her nothing until you have spoken to the attorney.
I lowered the letter.
My mother had known Vanessa existed before my father ever met her.
Or at least, she'd known about her family.
"Richard Hayes was Vanessa's father?"" I asked.
Dad nodded slowly.
"Yes.""
"You said he died years ago.""
"Vanessa told me he died when she was young.""
Vanessa finally spoke.
"Because he did.""
Dad looked at her.
"Then why does your mother's letter say he visited her in the hospital?""
"He didn't.""
"Emily's mother had no reason to invent that.""
Vanessa gave a bitter laugh.
"Your first wife was sick. You have no idea what she might have believed.""
Dad stood.
"Careful.""
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears, but her voice remained sharp.
"You're willing to destroy your marriage over a letter from a dead woman?""
"I'm willing to investigate why my daughter's education money disappeared.""
"She still has a roof over her head!""
"That is not an answer.""
Vanessa looked at me.
"You're enjoying this.""
I shook my head.
"No.""
"Don't lie. You've wanted me gone since the day I married your father.""
"I wanted you to stop treating me like I was a bill you had to pay.""
She opened her mouth, but Mia spoke first.
"Mom, just tell them what happened.""
Vanessa turned.
"Stay out of this.""
"You told me Grandpa Richard died before I was born.""
"He did.""
"Then how did he visit Emily's mom?""
Vanessa's face changed.
It was small, but I saw it.
A flicker of panic.
Then anger covered it.
"Your grandfather was a liar. He abandoned this family, and he tried to destroy me before he died.""
Dad folded the letter.
"How did he die?""
Vanessa stared at him.
"What?""
"You said he died before we met. How?""
"An accident.""
"What kind of accident?""
She hesitated.
"A car accident.""
"Where?""
"I don't remember.""
"You don't remember how your father died?""
Her eyes filled with tears again.
"Why are you doing this to me?""
Dad didn't answer.
I looked at the letter's final page. There was a handwritten note at the bottom, separate from the main text.
The file is stored with Margaret Collins at the law office. Reference: H-17.
I read it aloud.
"Margaret Collins. Does that mean anything to you?""
Dad shook his head.
"No. But the attorney who handled your mother's estate might know.""
Vanessa took a step forward.
"Give me that letter.""
I moved it behind my back.
"No.""
"Emily, that letter contains private information about my family.""
"It contains information about my mother.""
"She had no right to drag my father into this.""
"Then why are you afraid of it?""
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"Because you're twisting everything.""
Dad picked up his phone.
"I'm calling the estate attorney.""
"No!"" Vanessa shouted.
The sound startled Mia so badly that she dropped her earbud.
Dad stopped dialing.
Vanessa pressed a hand to her chest, breathing quickly.
"You can't call him," she said.
"Not without understanding what that file contains.""
Dad stared at her.
"Then explain it.""
She looked from him to me, then toward the hallway.
For one brief moment, she seemed ready to tell us everything.
Instead, she shook her head.
"I can't.""
"Can't, or won't?"" Dad asked.
Vanessa said nothing.
He made the call.
The estate attorney, a man named Robert Lewis, answered after several rings. Dad explained the letter, the reference number, and the mention of Richard Hayes.
Robert asked us to remain on the line while he checked the archived records.
After several minutes, he returned.
"I found a file under that reference," he said.
"It was stored separately from the estate documents, as your wife requested.""
My father glanced at me.
"What's in it?""
"Copies of bank statements, a signed affidavit, and a sealed envelope. The envelope was supposed to be released only if Emily reached eighteen or if a court ordered its release.""
My heart pounded.
"Can you tell us what the affidavit says?"" I asked.
There was a pause.
"Emily, the affidavit concerns a disputed financial account associated with your mother's estate. It appears that someone attempted to change the account's ownership shortly before her death.""
I looked at Vanessa.
She had gone completely still.
"Who attempted to change it?"" Dad asked.
"The document names Richard Hayes.""
Vanessa let out a sharp, disbelieving laugh.
"That's impossible.""
Robert continued.
"According to the affidavit, Richard claimed that his daughter had obtained copies of certain trust documents without authorization. He believed she intended to transfer the assets into a private company.""
Dad looked at the bank statement on the counter.
"V. H. Family Holdings?""
"That name does appear in a later attachment," Robert replied.
I felt the room spin.
"How much money was involved?""
"The original trust contained approximately $38,000. However, a separate investment account may have held considerably more.""
"How much more?""
"I can't confirm the final balance until I review the complete file.""
Dad rubbed his forehead.
"Robert, what does this have to do with my wife's letter?""
"Your first wife believed the documents could establish whether the later transfers were legitimate. She requested that the file remain sealed until Emily was old enough to understand its contents.""
"And Vanessa?""
There was a pause.
"Vanessa Hayes is mentioned in the affidavit as the person Richard believed had access to the disputed account.""
Vanessa abruptly grabbed the phone from Dad.
"This is absurd! You have no idea what you're saying!""
Robert's voice remained calm.
"Mrs. Carter, I recommend that you refrain from contacting any financial institutions about these accounts until the documents have been reviewed.""
Vanessa's hand shook.
"You're accusing me of fraud based on a dead man's lies!""
"I'm advising caution based on the records available to me.""
She ended the call.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Vanessa turned toward my father.
"You're going to let a stranger destroy this family?""
Dad took the phone from her.
"You destroyed my trust when you let me believe you were someone you weren't.""
Her face crumpled.
"I loved you.""
"I wanted to believe that.""
"I raised your daughter!""
"You also took her money.""
"I was going to put it back!""
"With what?""
Vanessa had no answer.
Mia stood beside her mother, tears streaking her cheeks.
"Mom, what happened to Grandpa Richard?""
Vanessa looked at her.
"Not now.""
"You told me he died in a car accident. You said he never cared about us.""
"He didn't.""
"Then why did you keep his name a secret?""
Vanessa reached for Mia's arm.
"Because he was a terrible man.""
Mia pulled away.
"Did he really try to warn Emily's mom about you?""
Vanessa's hand dropped.
I watched her face, searching for the anger that usually appeared whenever someone challenged her.
This time, there was only fear.
Then she looked directly at me.
"Your mother was not the innocent person you think she was.""
Dad stepped forward.
"Don't you dare.""
"She interfered in something that had nothing to do with her.""
"She was trying to protect her daughter.""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"She was trying to protect money she didn't understand.""
I felt a chill move through me.
"What does that mean?""
Vanessa turned away.
"It means she should have stayed out of my family's affairs.""
Dad's voice dropped.
"Vanessa, what happened to Richard?""
She stood silent for a long moment.
Then she said, "He died in a hospital.""
My father frowned.
"You just said he died in a car accident.""
"He was in a car accident.""
"When?""
"Years ago.""
"Where?""
Vanessa squeezed her eyes shut.
"I don't remember every detail!""
Dad took out his phone.
"Then I'll find the death certificate.""
She looked at him sharply.
"You can't do that.""
"Why not?""
"Because—"
She stopped.
I took one step toward her.
"Because what?""
Vanessa's face turned pale.
Then she whispered, "Because he might not be dead.""
Nobody spoke.
Even Mia seemed to stop breathing.
Dad lowered his phone.
"What did you just say?""
Vanessa backed away from us.
"I didn't mean—"
"You said your father might not be dead.""
"I said I don't know!""
"How can you not know?""
She grabbed her handbag and rushed toward the garage.
Dad followed her to the doorway but didn't touch her.
"Vanessa, come back.""
She stopped beside the car, her back to us.
"I need time.""
"For what?""
She turned her head.
"To remember what actually happened.""
Then she got into the car and drove away.
Mia sank onto the kitchen stool, covering her face with both hands.
I stood beside the island, staring at the spot where Vanessa had been standing.
My father came back inside.
"Are you all right?"" he asked.
I shook my head.
"No.""
He pulled me into a hug.
For the first time in years, I let myself lean against him without worrying about whether I was being too emotional.
He held me until my breathing slowed.
Then I stepped back.
"Dad, I want to see the file.""
"We will.""
"I want to know everything Mom found out.""
"We'll find out.""
"And I want my money back.""
He nodded.
"You'll have it. I don't know how long the process will take, but I promise we'll pursue every dollar.""
I looked at the bank statement.
The missing $2,340 had started as a theft from my college savings.
Now it was connected to a disputed trust, a forged signature, a company account, and a man who might still be alive.
My father took out his phone again.
"I'm calling Robert back. We'll arrange to collect the original documents.""
He walked into the living room to make the call.
I remained in the kitchen with Mia.
For several minutes, neither of us spoke.
Then she lifted her head.
"Emily?""
I looked at her.
"Yeah?""
"If Mom really stole your money, does that mean everything she bought me was stolen?""
I glanced at the MacBook.
"I don't know.""
Mia's chin trembled.
"I didn't ask her to do any of this.""
"I know.""
"She said you were jealous because I was going to have a better future.""
I felt something inside me go quiet.
"I never wanted your future, Mia. I wanted mine.""
She began to cry again.
This time, I didn't comfort her immediately.
I needed her to understand that being young, being loved, and being someone's daughter didn't erase the harm she'd helped excuse.
After a moment, she wiped her cheeks.
"I'm sorry.""
It was the first sincere apology I'd heard from anyone in that house since the money disappeared.
I nodded.
"Thank you.""
Then my phone vibrated.
An unknown number had sent me a text.
*Unknown: Your mother was right to hide the file. Vanessa doesn't know where the original is.*
A second message arrived.
*Unknown: But if you want to understand what happened to your college fund, stop trusting your father.*
I stared at the screen.
Before I could reply, a third message appeared.
*Unknown: Ask him why he waited seven years to tell you about the trust.*
I slowly looked toward the living room.
My father stood near the window, speaking quietly to the attorney.
His face was drawn. His shoulders sagged.
He looked like a man trying to hold together something that had already begun to fall apart.
I wanted to believe him.
But someone had just told me not to.
And whoever it was knew about the file.
May you like
They knew about my mother.
And they knew exactly which question would hurt the most.
