Chapter 5: The Secret## Chapter 5: The Secret Behind Room Behind Room 204
Lily tried to slam the door.
204
Lily tried to slam the door.
My father caught it with his palm.
“WaitMy father caught it with his palm.
“Wait,” he said.
“Please. I'm not here to hurt you.””
“Get away from me!””
,” he said.
“Please. I'm not here to hurt you.””
“Get away from me!””
She pushed against the door with both hands, her face twisted with panic. I could see the musclesShe pushed against the door with both hands, her face twisted with panic. I could see the muscles in her jaw trembling.
Behind her, footsteps approached.
“Lily?”” in her jaw trembling.
Behind her, footsteps approached.
“Lily?”” the man called again.
“What's happening?””
“Nothing, Dad the man called again.
“What's happening?””
“Nothing, Dad!”” she shouted.
The word struck me harder than I expected.
Dad.
She had called someone else Dad.
The man who had raised my!”” she shouted.
The word struck me harder than I expected.
Dad.
She had called someone else Dad.
The man who had raised my sister. The man who had watched her grow up while my father believed she was dead.
Marcus sister. The man who had watched her grow up while my father believed she was dead.
Marcus released the door.
“We'll leave if you want us to,” he said.
“But I need you to hear released the door.
“We'll leave if you want us to,” he said.
“But I need you to hear one thing first. My name is Marcus Carter. I believe you're my daughter.””
Lily one thing first. My name is Marcus Carter. I believe you're my daughter.””
Lily's eyes filled with tears.
“You don't get to say that.””
's eyes filled with tears.
“You don't get to say that.””
“I know I have no right to ask you to trust me.””
“No, you don't!”” Her voice cracked“I know I have no right to ask you to trust me.””
“No, you don't!”” Her voice cracked.
“You don't get to show up after seventeen years and tell me you're my father because you.
“You don't get to show up after seventeen years and tell me you're my father because you saw a picture!””
She slammed the door.
The lock clicked.
I stood on the porch, staring saw a picture!””
She slammed the door.
The lock clicked.
I stood on the porch, staring at the white paint.
I understood her anger.
I understood it so at the white paint.
I understood her anger.
I understood it so completely that I couldn't even be angry with her for shutting us completely that I couldn't even be angry with her for shutting us out.
If someone had walked into my life and told me everything I knew about my family was a lie, I might have done out.
If someone had walked into my life and told me everything I knew about my family was a lie, I might have done the same thing.
My father stepped away from the door.
“Let's go.””
I the same thing.
My father stepped away from the door.
“Let's go.””
I turned toward him.
“Just like that?””
“She asked turned toward him.
“Just like that?””
“She asked us to leave.””
“She also said Vanessa would kill us both.””
His expression tightened.
“Which means someone has frightened her badly enough that we shouldn't force our way inside us to leave.””
“She also said Vanessa would kill us both.””
His expression tightened.
“Which means someone has frightened her badly enough that we shouldn't force our way inside.””
He was right.
I hated that he was right.
We walked back toward the car.””
He was right.
I hated that he was right.
We walked back toward the car, but before we reached the gate, the front door opened again.
This time, a man stood in the doorway.
, but before we reached the gate, the front door opened again.
This time, a man stood in the doorway.
He was in his late fifties, with silver hair, a tired face, and a flannel shirt tucked intoHe was in his late fifties, with silver hair, a tired face, and a flannel shirt tucked into faded jeans. He looked like the sort of man who repaired his own faded jeans. He looked like the sort of man who repaired his own fence and remembered to bring his neighbors' trash bins back from the curb.
He also fence and remembered to bring his neighbors' trash bins back from the curb.
He also looked at my father as though he had been expecting him for years.
“Marcus Carter,” he said.
My father stopped.
“Who are you?””
The man stepped onto looked at my father as though he had been expecting him for years.
“Marcus Carter,” he said.
My father stopped.
“Who are you?””
The man stepped onto the porch and closed the door behind him.
“Thomas Bennett.””
He held the porch and closed the door behind him.
“Thomas Bennett.””
He held out his hand.
Marcus didn't take it.
“Are you Lily's father?””
Thomas lowered his hand.
“ out his hand.
Marcus didn't take it.
“Are you Lily's father?””
Thomas lowered his hand.
“I'm the man who raised her.””
“That wasn't my question.””
“No.”” Thomas looked toward the upstairsI'm the man who raised her.””
“That wasn't my question.””
“No.”” Thomas looked toward the upstairs window.
“It wasn't.””
I stepped closer.
“Mr. Bennett, please. We don't want window.
“It wasn't.””
I stepped closer.
“Mr. Bennett, please. We don't want to cause trouble. We just want to know whether Lily is—”
“My daughter to cause trouble. We just want to know whether Lily is—”
“My daughter?”” he finished.
His eyes settled on?”” he finished.
His eyes settled on me.
For a moment, he looked as though he might cry.
“Yes,” he said.
“She's my me.
For a moment, he looked as though he might cry.
“Yes,” he said.
“She's my daughter.””
I felt the words like a stone in my chest.
Thomas noticed.
daughter.””
I felt the words like a stone in my chest.
Thomas noticed.
He shook his head.
“Not by blood, perhaps. But I changedHe shook his head.
“Not by blood, perhaps. But I changed her diapers. I sat beside her when she had pneumonia at four years old. I taught her diapers.
I sat beside her when she had pneumonia at four years old. I taught her to ride a bicycle. I stayed awake all night when she got her first fever after starting her to ride a bicycle. I stayed awake all night when she got her first fever after starting school.””
He swallowed.
“So if you're asking whether I love her, the answer is yes.””
My father looked away.
I school.””
He swallowed.
“So if you're asking whether I love her, the answer is yes.””
My father looked away.
I didn't blame Thomas for loving my sister.
If didn't blame Thomas for loving my sister.
If anything, I was grateful someone had.
But the knowledge that he had experienced every ordinary moment of her childhood while I anything, I was grateful someone had.
But the knowledge that he had experienced every ordinary moment of her childhood while I grew up alone made my chest ache.
“Did you know she was taken from a grew up alone made my chest ache.
“Did you know she was taken from a hospital?”” Marcus asked.
Thomas's expression hardened.
“I hospital?”” Marcus asked.
Thomas's expression hardened.
“I knew she was brought to me under circumstances I didn't understand. I was told her biological parents had died.””
“Who told you that knew she was brought to me under circumstances I didn't understand. I was told her biological parents had died.””
“Who told you that?””
“Vanessa Carter.””
My father took a step forward.
“What?””
Thomas glanced toward the house.
“Not?””
“Vanessa Carter.””
My father took a step forward.
“What?””
Thomas glanced toward the house.
“Not here.””
“Then where?””
Thomas looked at me.
“You here.””
“Then where?””
Thomas looked at me.
“You should both come inside.””
He led us into a narrow living room filled with old books, framed photographs should both come inside.””
He led us into a narrow living room filled with old books, framed photographs, and the comforting smell of cinnamon. A half-finished jigsaw puzzle covered, and the comforting smell of cinnamon. A half-finished jigsaw puzzle covered the coffee table. A pair of muddy sneakers sat beside the stairs.
The house felt lived in.
Safe the coffee table. A pair of muddy sneakers sat beside the stairs.
The house felt lived in.
Safe.
It was difficult to reconcile that warmth with the terrible secret it had sheltered.
It was difficult to reconcile that warmth with the terrible secret it had sheltered.
Lily stood at the bottom of the staircase, her arms folded tightly.
Lily stood at the bottom of the staircase, her arms folded tightly across her chest.
“I told you not to let them in.””
Thomas turned toward her.
“I know, sweetheart.””
“Then why did you?””
“Because they're asking across her chest.
“I told you not to let them in.””
Thomas turned toward her.
“I know, sweetheart.””
“Then why did you?””
“Because they're asking questions I should have answered a long time ago.””
She looked at him as though he had betrayed her.
“Dad, questions I should have answered a long time ago.””
She looked at him as though he had betrayed her.
“Dad, you promised.””
Thomas's shoulders sagged.
“I promised I would protect you. I never promised to lie to you forever you promised.””
Thomas's shoulders sagged.
“I promised I would protect you. I never promised to lie to you forever.””
Lily's face crumpled.
She climbed two steps, then stopped.
“Are.””
Lily's face crumpled.
She climbed two steps, then stopped.
“Are you going to send me away?””
“No,” Thomas said immediately.
“Are you going to send me away?””
“No,” Thomas said immediately.
“Are they?””
My father answered before Thomas could.
“Never they?””
My father answered before Thomas could.
“Never. I wouldn't force you to do anything.””
Lily laughed bitterly.
“You wouldn't. I wouldn't force you to do anything.””
Lily laughed bitterly.
“You wouldn't know what to force me to do. You weren't there.””
Marcus accepted the blow without defending himself.
“You know what to force me to do. You weren't there.””
Marcus accepted the blow without defending himself.
“You're right,” he said.
“I wasn't.””
For a moment, the room fell silent.
Then Thomas walked're right,” he said.
“I wasn't.””
For a moment, the room fell silent.
Then Thomas walked to a wooden cabinet and pulled out a thick envelope.
He placed it on the coffee table.
“This is everything to a wooden cabinet and pulled out a thick envelope.
He placed it on the coffee table.
“This is everything Vanessa gave me.””
My father stared at it.
“Everything?””
“Letters, medical Vanessa gave me.””
My father stared at it.
“Everything?””
“Letters, medical records, legal papers. Even the money transfer.””
Thomas opened the envelope and removed a document.
The first page was records, legal papers. Even the money transfer.””
Thomas opened the envelope and removed a document.
The first page was a guardianship agreement.
The second was a bank statement showing a deposit of two hundred a guardianship agreement.
The second was a bank statement showing a deposit of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
My father gripped the edge of the table.
“You were paid to take my daughter?””
Thomas's face tightened.
“Yes and fifty thousand dollars.
My father gripped the edge of the table.
“You were paid to take my daughter?””
Thomas's face tightened.
“Yes.””
Lily turned sharply.
“Dad?””
Thomas looked at her.
“I was told the money.””
Lily turned sharply.
“Dad?””
Thomas looked at her.
“I was told the money was for your care. I was told your biological parents were wealthy, that they was for your care. I was told your biological parents were wealthy, that they had died in an accident, and that a legal dispute had died in an accident, and that a legal dispute made it necessary for you to be raised privately.””
“You told me you adopted me because you and Mom made it necessary for you to be raised privately.””
“You told me you adopted me because you and Mom couldn't have children,” Lily whispered.
Thomas closed his eyes.
“I know.””
“You said my couldn't have children,” Lily whispered.
Thomas closed his eyes.
“I know.””
“You said my birth mother gave me up.””
“I know.””
“You said she loved me but couldn't take care of me.””
His voice broke.
“I was told those things, birth mother gave me up.””
“I know.””
“You said she loved me but couldn't take care of me.””
His voice broke.
“I was told those things, too.””
Lily stared at him.
“Did you ever question it?””
Thomas didn't too.””
Lily stared at him.
“Did you ever question it?””
Thomas didn't answer immediately.
He sat down heavily in the armchair.
“At first, no answer immediately.
He sat down heavily in the armchair.
“At first, no. Vanessa showed me documents with signatures and official stamps. She said. Vanessa showed me documents with signatures and official stamps.
She said your mother had died and your father had abandoned you. She said the your mother had died and your father had abandoned you. She said the arrangement would protect you from a public custody battle.””
“And later?””
Thomas rubbed arrangement would protect you from a public custody battle.””
“And later?””
Thomas rubbed his hands together.
“Later, I started noticing things that didn't make his hands together.
“Later, I started noticing things that didn't make sense. Vanessa would visit you, but she never wanted photographs taken sense. Vanessa would visit you, but she never wanted photographs taken. She insisted that your school records use a different surname.
Every few. She insisted that your school records use a different surname. Every few years, she would ask me to move, change doctors, or stop taking you to certain places years, she would ask me to move, change doctors, or stop taking you to certain places.””
My father looked furious.
“And you never contacted me?””
“I didn't know how.””
My father looked furious.
“And you never contacted me?””
“I didn't know how to reach you without exposing Lily. Vanessa told me your lawyers had threatened to take to reach you without exposing Lily. Vanessa told me your lawyers had threatened to take her away if I spoke to anyone.
Then, when Lily was ten, she showed up her away if I spoke to anyone. Then, when Lily was ten, she showed up at my house with a document that looked like a custody at my house with a document that looked like a custody order.””
Thomas stood and went to the cabinet again.
He returned with a folded sheet of paper.
“I kept a copy.””
Marcus snatched it from order.””
Thomas stood and went to the cabinet again.
He returned with a folded sheet of paper.
“I kept a copy.””
Marcus snatched it from him.
The document bore the seal of a law office that had closed years earlier.
At him.
The document bore the seal of a law office that had closed years earlier.
At the bottom was a signature.
Daniel Reeves.
My father went pale.
“Daniel signed this?””
Thomas nodded the bottom was a signature.
Daniel Reeves.
My father went pale.
“Daniel signed this?””
Thomas nodded.
“He told me that if I ever contacted Marcus Carter, I would lose Lily.””
I stared.
“He told me that if I ever contacted Marcus Carter, I would lose Lily.””
I stared at the signature.
“Could it be fake?””
“It could,” my father said.
“Daniel at the signature.
“Could it be fake?””
“It could,” my father said.
“Daniel has represented me for twenty years. If he signed this, I want to know why.””
L has represented me for twenty years. If he signed this, I want to know why.””
Lily moved toward the coffee table.
She picked up the bank statement and read the amount.
“Twoily moved toward the coffee table.
She picked up the bank statement and read the amount.
“Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.””
Her voice sounded empty.
“That's what I was worth?””
Thomas stood hundred and fifty thousand dollars.””
Her voice sounded empty.
“That's what I was worth?””
Thomas stood immediately.
“No, sweetheart. Never.””
“Then why did you take the money?””
He looked as though the question had struck him in the chest.
“Because I was stupid. Because I believed immediately.
“No, sweetheart. Never.””
“Then why did you take the money?””
He looked as though the question had struck him in the chest.
“Because I was stupid. Because I believed I was helping an abandoned child. Because I thought I could give you a good life and protect you from whatever had I was helping an abandoned child. Because I thought I could give you a good life and protect you from whatever had happened to your family.””
“You could have told me.””
“Yes.””
“You could have let me choose what happened to your family.””
“You could have told me.””
“Yes.””
“You could have let me choose what to do with the truth.””
“Yes.””
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
“But you to do with the truth.””
“Yes.””
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
“But you didn't.””
Thomas lowered his head.
“No.””
I watched her wipe her face with her sleeve.
I didn't.””
Thomas lowered his head.
“No.””
I watched her wipe her face with her sleeve.
I wanted to go to her.
I wanted to tell her that she wasn't alone, that I was her sister, wanted to go to her.
I wanted to tell her that she wasn't alone, that I was her sister, that we had both been robbed of something precious.
But I didn't know whether she wanted that we had both been robbed of something precious.
But I didn't know whether she wanted me near her.
So I stayed where I me near her.
So I stayed where I was.
After a while, Lily looked at me.
“Do you have a scar on your left knee?””
I blinked.
“What?””
“A scar. Just below your kneec was.
After a while, Lily looked at me.
“Do you have a scar on your left knee?””
I blinked.
“What?””
“A scar. Just below your kneecap. Like a little crescent.””
I instinctively touched my knee through my jeans.
“Yes.””
Herap. Like a little crescent.””
I instinctively touched my knee through my jeans.
“Yes.””
Her lips parted.
“I have one, too.””
She pulled up the hem of her trousers to reveal a pale, lips parted.
“I have one, too.””
She pulled up the hem of her trousers to reveal a pale, crescent-shaped scar beneath her left kneecap.
My heart began pounding.
“How did you get it?”” I asked.
“I crescent-shaped scar beneath her left kneecap.
My heart began pounding.
“How did you get it?”” I asked.
“I fell off a swing when I was six. Thomas took me to the fell off a swing when I was six. Thomas took me to the emergency room.””
I stared at the scar.
“I fell off a swing when I was six, too. At emergency room.””
I stared at the scar.
“I fell off a swing when I was six, too. At my grandmother's house.””
We looked at each other.
For the first time, the resemblance felt less like a coincidence my grandmother's house.””
We looked at each other.
For the first time, the resemblance felt less like a coincidence and more like a memory my body had been carrying without my knowledge.
Lily and more like a memory my body had been carrying without my knowledge.
Lily sat on the bottom step.
“Did you ever dream about me?””
The question surprised sat on the bottom step.
“Did you ever dream about me?””
The question surprised me.
“Sometimes.””
“What kind of dreams?””
“I don't know. A girl standing me.
“Sometimes.””
“What kind of dreams?””
“I don't know. A girl standing on the other side of a glass door. I could see her, but I couldn't hear her.””
on the other side of a glass door. I could see her, but I couldn't hear her.””
Lily's eyes widened.
“I used to dream about a girl in a yellow dress. She looked exactly like me. She was alwaysLily's eyes widened.
“I used to dream about a girl in a yellow dress. She looked exactly like me. She was always calling my name, but I couldn't reach her.””
I felt tears rise again.
Neither of us spoke.
calling my name, but I couldn't reach her.””
I felt tears rise again.
Neither of us spoke.
We didn't need to.
For one fragile moment, we were simply two girls who had spent their lives missing each other.
Then ThomasWe didn't need to.
For one fragile moment, we were simply two girls who had spent their lives missing each other.
Then Thomas's phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
His face changed.
“Who is it?”” Lily asked.
Thomas didn't's phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
His face changed.
“Who is it?”” Lily asked.
Thomas didn't answer.
The phone continued vibrating in his hand.
He finally accepted the answer.
The phone continued vibrating in his hand.
He finally accepted the call and put it to his ear.
“Hello?””
A woman's voice came through the speaker.
Cold.
call and put it to his ear.
“Hello?””
A woman's voice came through the speaker.
Cold.
Controlled.
Familiar.
“Thomas, I understand you have visitors.””
My fatherControlled.
Familiar.
“Thomas, I understand you have visitors.””
My father stood.
“Vanessa?””
Thomas went rigid.
The voice continued.
“Please tell Marcus stood.
“Vanessa?””
Thomas went rigid.
The voice continued.
“Please tell Marcus that if he wants to see his daughter again, he needs to leave my child alone.””
Lily grabbed Thomas that if he wants to see his daughter again, he needs to leave my child alone.””
Lily grabbed Thomas's arm.
“Dad, hang up!””
But Vanessa wasn't finished.
“And Nia,” she added's arm.
“Dad, hang up!””
But Vanessa wasn't finished.
“And Nia,” she added, her voice suddenly sweet, “if you're listening, there's something you should know about the, her voice suddenly sweet, “if you're listening, there's something you should know about the girl you're calling your sister.””
I stepped closer to the phone.
“What?””
Vanessa gave girl you're calling your sister.””
I stepped closer to the phone.
“What?””
Vanessa gave a small, chilling laugh.
“Ask Thomas what happened to Lily's real mother.””
The a small, chilling laugh.
“Ask Thomas what happened to Lily's real mother.””
The call ended.
Thomas's face had gone white.
Lily call ended.
Thomas's face had gone white.
Lily stared at him.
“Dad?””
He lowered the phone.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he looked stared at him.
“Dad?””
He lowered the phone.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he looked at my father.
“I think it's time you both learned why Vanessa gave me that money.””
He reached into the envelope and pulled out a photograph.
It showed a young woman standing beside a hospital bed.
She had dark curls and warm brown eyes.
My mother's face at my father.
“I think it's time you both learned why Vanessa gave me that money.””
He reached into the envelope and pulled out a photograph.
It showed a young woman standing beside a hospital bed.
She had dark curls and warm brown eyes.
My mother's face.
But the woman in the bed wasn't my mother.
It was someone who looked almost exactly like her.
And on the back of the photograph, in.
But the woman in the bed wasn't my mother.
It was someone who looked almost exactly like her.
May you like
And on the back of the photograph, in faded blue ink, were three words:
*Evelyn's younger sister.*
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