Chapter 7: ## Chapter 7: The Father I Never Knew
"Say: The Father I Never Knew
"Say that again.""
My voice barely sounded that again.""
My voice barely sounded like mine.
Dad stood in the doorway of the sewing room, his like mine.
Dad stood in the doorway of the sewing room, his hands trembling.
"Thomas Reed is your biological father.""
hands trembling.
"Thomas Reed is your biological father.""
I stared at him.
For fourteen years, I had called RichardI stared at him.
For fourteen years, I had called Richard Bennett Dad. He had taught me to Bennett Dad. He had taught me to ride a bicycle, attended my school performances ride a bicycle, attended my school performances, and sat beside me when my mother died.
He had also, and sat beside me when my mother died.
He had also lied to me.
About the company lied to me.
About the company.
About my mother's final days.
And apparently.
About my mother's final days.
And apparently, about the man who had brought me into the world.
"You're, about the man who had brought me into the world.
"You're lying," I whispered.
Richard shook his head.
"I wish I were.""
I held lying," I whispered.
Richard shook his head.
"I wish I were.""
I held up the photograph of my mother and Eleanor.
"Then up the photograph of my mother and Eleanor.
"Then explain this. Explain explain this. Explain why Thomas told me he was your financial director.
Explain why why Thomas told me he was your financial director. Explain why Mom never mentioned him.""
Richard stepped into Mom never mentioned him.""
Richard stepped into the room.
"Your mother and Thomas were married before she the room.
"Your mother and Thomas were married before she met me. They separated when she discovered he had met me. They separated when she discovered he had been hiding financial problems in his previous been hiding financial problems in his previous business.""
"Separated or business.""
"Separated or divorced?""
"Divorced.""
"Was I born divorced?""
"Divorced.""
"Was I born before or after they separated?""
He looked down before or after they separated?""
He looked down.
"After.""
I felt the floor shift.
"After.""
I felt the floor shift beneath my feet.
"How old was I when you beneath my feet.
"How old was I when you married Mom?""
"Three.""
"And married Mom?""
"Three.""
"And you knew?""
"Yes.""
I laughed, but there was no you knew?""
"Yes.""
I laughed, but there was no humor in it.
"You knew I wasn't yours?""
Richard humor in it.
"You knew I wasn't yours?""
Richard flinched.
"I raised flinched.
"I raised you as my daughter.""
"That's not what I asked.""
He you as my daughter.""
"That's not what I asked.""
He looked at me.
"Yes. I knew.""
I looked at me.
"Yes. I knew.""
I turned away.
The sewing turned away.
The sewing machine stood beneath the window. My mother had spent countless machine stood beneath the window. My mother had spent countless nights sitting there, creating beautiful things from ordinary fabric.
She nights sitting there, creating beautiful things from ordinary fabric.
She had also spent years keeping had also spent years keeping an enormous secret.
"Why didn't she tell me?""
" an enormous secret.
"Why didn't she tell me?""
"She wanted to. ButShe wanted to. But Thomas disappeared after their Thomas disappeared after their divorce. He was involved with people who were dangerous, and your mother didn't want them anywhere near you.""
" divorce. He was involved with people who were dangerous, and your mother didn't want them anywhere near you.""
"Then why did she hire him?""
Richard hesitatedThen why did she hire him?""
Richard hesitated.
"Because he had changed. He wanted to repair.
"Because he had changed. He wanted to repair what he had done.""
"And what he had done.""
"And Eleanor?""
His expression darkened.
" Eleanor?""
His expression darkened.
"That's where things became complicated.""
I turned back.
"That's where things became complicated.""
I turned back.
"Tell me everything.""
He pulled a chair awayTell me everything.""
He pulled a chair away from the worktable and sat down.
"Thomas and Eleanor were from the worktable and sat down.
"Thomas and Eleanor were married for five years. They had financial married for five years. They had financial problems, and their marriage ended badly.
After the problems, and their marriage ended badly. After the divorce, Eleanor discovered that Thomas had kept some documents divorce, Eleanor discovered that Thomas had kept some documents connected to a company they once operated.""
"What company?""
"North connected to a company they once operated.""
"What company?""
"Northstar's predecessor.""
I rememberedstar's predecessor.""
I remembered the sponsorship documents.
"So Eleanor wanted the sponsorship documents.
"So Eleanor wanted the company back?""
"She wanted control the company back?""
"She wanted control of its assets. Your mother had developed of its assets. Your mother had developed a number of designs with Thomas, and Eleanor a number of designs with Thomas, and Eleanor believed she was entitled to a share.""
"Was she?""
"No believed she was entitled to a share.""
"Was she?""
"No.""
"Then why did Mom let her into.""
"Then why did Mom let her into Bennett Atelier?""
"Because Eleanor approached her as Bennett Atelier?""
"Because Eleanor approached her as an old friend. She claimed she wanted to rebuild an old friend. She claimed she wanted to rebuild her career.""
I looked at the photograph again.
My her career.""
I looked at the photograph again.
My mother had trusted her.
That was the cruelest part.
"Did mother had trusted her.
That was the cruelest part.
"Did you know Eleanor was stealing from the you know Eleanor was stealing from the company?""
Richard nodded.
"Eventually.""
"Did you know she was threatening Mom company?""
Richard nodded.
"Eventually.""
"Did you know she was threatening Mom?""
His eyes filled.
"?""
His eyes filled.
"Yes.""
I stepped away from him.
"You knew?""
"I wasYes.""
I stepped away from him.
"You knew?""
"I was trying to stop it.""
"By helping trying to stop it.""
"By helping her?""
He covered his face.
"I her?""
He covered his face.
"I made a terrible mistake.""
made a terrible mistake.""
I looked at him for a long moment.
Then I asked the question thatI looked at him for a long moment.
Then I asked the question that had been burning inside me.
"Did you love had been burning inside me.
"Did you love Mom?""
He looked up.
"More Mom?""
He looked up.
"More than anything.""
"Then why did you let her die alone than anything.""
"Then why did you let her die alone?""
He couldn't answer.
And I finally understood that some?""
He couldn't answer.
And I finally understood that some questions didn't need answers.
questions didn't need answers.
The silence was enough.
The following morning, DanielThe silence was enough.
The following morning, Daniel arranged a meeting with Thomas.
I arranged a meeting with Thomas.
I hadn't spoken to him since discovering the truth.
I hadn't spoken to him since discovering the truth.
I wasn't sure I could look at him.
wasn't sure I could look at him.
But I needed answers.
We met in DanielBut I needed answers.
We met in Daniel's office at ten.
Thomas arrived wearing a dark coat and carrying a leather briefcase.
When he saw me,'s office at ten.
Thomas arrived wearing a dark coat and carrying a leather briefcase.
When he saw me, he stopped.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
he stopped.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he said quietly, "You look like Claire.""
I looked at his face.
"Did youThen he said quietly, "You look like Claire.""
I looked at his face.
"Did you know I was your daughter?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
"How know I was your daughter?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
"How long?""
"Since the day you were born.""
My throat tightened.
"And long?""
"Since the day you were born.""
My throat tightened.
"And you let me believe Richard was my father?""
Thomas lowered you let me believe Richard was my father?""
Thomas lowered his eyes.
"Your mother asked his eyes.
"Your mother asked me to.""
"Why?""
"Because me to.""
"Why?""
"Because she believed you deserved a peaceful childhood. She wanted you to grow she believed you deserved a peaceful childhood. She wanted you to grow up without the burden of our up without the burden of our past.""
I pulled out a chair.
"Did past.""
I pulled out a chair.
"Did you agree?""
"I did.""
"Did you agree?""
"I did.""
"Did you ever try to see me?""
"Several you ever try to see me?""
"Several times.""
"Then why didn't you?""
He opened times.""
"Then why didn't you?""
He opened his briefcase.
From inside, he removed a stack of letters.
"I wrote to his briefcase.
From inside, he removed a stack of letters.
"I wrote to you every birthday.""
I stared at them.
There were fourteen envelopes.
Each carried you every birthday.""
I stared at them.
There were fourteen envelopes.
Each carried my name.
Some had small handwritten notes on the front.
*For Maya my name.
Some had small handwritten notes on the front.
For Maya, when she turns five.
For Maya, when she graduates.
For Maya, when she discovers who she is.
I picked up the first envelope.
It had never been opened.
"Why didn't you send them?""
Thomas looked at me.
"Because Eleanor intercepted the, when she turns five.*
For Maya, when she graduates.
For Maya, when she discovers who she is.
I picked up the first envelope.
It had never been opened.
"Why didn't you send them?""
Thomas looked at me.
"Because Eleanor intercepted the first one.""
My head snapped up.
"What?""
"She found out I was trying to contact first one.""
My head snapped up.
"What?""
"She found out I was trying to contact you. She threatened to reveal information about your mother that would destroy the life you. She threatened to reveal information about your mother that would destroy the life Claire had built for you.""
"What information?""
Thomas Claire had built for you.""
"What information?""
Thomas hesitated.
"That she had falsified parts hesitated.
"That she had falsified parts of the original company registration.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"You're saying Claire falsified documents?""
"No. Eleanor of the original company registration.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"You're saying Claire falsified documents?""
"No. Eleanor did. She used Claire's identity to did. She used Claire's identity to register certain intellectual property under a separate register certain intellectual property under a separate business.""
He placed another document on the table.
"This business.""
He placed another document on the table.
"This was the original agreement between your mother and me. It established that Bennett Atelier would pass to Maya.""
was the original agreement between your mother and me. It established that Bennett Atelier would pass to Maya.""
I studied the signatures.
Thomas's.
My mother's.
TwoI studied the signatures.
Thomas's.
My mother's.
Two witnesses.
The document was dated three months witnesses.
The document was dated three months before my birth.
"Why did you leave the company?""
Thomas looked exhausted.
"Because I before my birth.
"Why did you leave the company?""
Thomas looked exhausted.
"Because I discovered that Eleanor was using it to move discovered that Eleanor was using it to move money from other businesses. I confronted her. money from other businesses.
I confronted her. She threatened to destroy my reputation and make sure I never saw my daughter.""
"And you believed her?""
"I was young. I She threatened to destroy my reputation and make sure I never saw my daughter.""
"And you believed her?""
"I was young. I had made mistakes. I thought disappearing would had made mistakes. I thought disappearing would protect you.""
I looked at him.
"You disappeared for protect you.""
I looked at him.
"You disappeared for fourteen years.""
He nodded.
"I know.""
"That's a fourteen years.""
He nodded.
"I know.""
"That's a long time to protect someone.""
He didn't defend himself.
Instead long time to protect someone.""
He didn't defend himself.
Instead, he slid a small envelope toward me.
"Your mother gave me this, he slid a small envelope toward me.
"Your mother gave me this before she died.""
I opened it.
Inside was a letter addressed to Thomas.
before she died.""
I opened it.
Inside was a letter addressed to Thomas.
If I cannot tellIf I cannot tell Maya the truth myself, please make sure she knows she was never unwanted.*
I stopped reading.
My eyes blurred Maya the truth myself, please make sure she knows she was never unwanted.*
I stopped reading.
My eyes blurred.
Thomas.
Thomas continued.
"Claire loved you more than anything. She wanted you to inherit the atelier because continued.
"Claire loved you more than anything. She wanted you to inherit the atelier because she believed you had the same instincts she did.""
I she believed you had the same instincts she did.""
I wiped my face.
"Then why did she leave wiped my face.
"Then why did she leave the company to me instead of you?""
He the company to me instead of you?""
He smiled sadly.
"Because she knew I smiled sadly.
"Because she knew I would never want it without her would never want it without her.""
Daniel interrupted us.
"I.""
Daniel interrupted us.
"I've received the preliminary forensic report.""
He've received the preliminary forensic report.""
He opened his laptop.
"The audio recordings from the USB drive are opened his laptop.
"The audio recordings from the USB drive are authentic. The metadata matches the dates Thomas authentic. The metadata matches the dates Thomas provided.""
Thomas nodded provided.""
Thomas nodded.
"Good.""
"But there's another issue.""
Daniel turned the screen toward us.
A scanned document appeared.
It was an.
"Good.""
"But there's another issue.""
Daniel turned the screen toward us.
A scanned document appeared.
It was an insurance policy.
The insured person was Claire Bennett.
insurance policy.
The insured person was Claire Bennett.
The beneficiary was Richard Bennett.
The policy had been increased substantially three months before her death.
I stared atThe beneficiary was Richard Bennett.
The policy had been increased substantially three months before her death.
I stared at the amount.
Two million dollars.
"Did the amount.
Two million dollars.
"Did Dad know about this?""
Daniel nodded.
"He signed the amendment.""
Thomas's face tightened.
"That Dad know about this?""
Daniel nodded.
"He signed the amendment.""
Thomas's face tightened.
"That wasn't part of the original agreement.""
I looked at him wasn't part of the original agreement.""
I looked at him.
"What agreement?""
Thomas leaned.
"What agreement?""
Thomas leaned forward.
"Claire was planning to transfer the company forward.
"Claire was planning to transfer the company to you. Richard agreed to handle the paperwork to you. Richard agreed to handle the paperwork.
Eleanor wanted the insurance money to. Eleanor wanted the insurance money to finance Northstar's expansion.""
My stomach twisted finance Northstar's expansion.""
My stomach twisted.
"Are you saying they planned to kill her?""
Thomas shook his head.
"I'm.
"Are you saying they planned to kill her?""
Thomas shook his head.
"I'm saying the circumstances surrounding her death deserve a criminal investigation.""
Daniel closed saying the circumstances surrounding her death deserve a criminal investigation.""
Daniel closed the file.
"We'll need the original police report, the file.
"We'll need the original police report, the insurance claim, and the medical examiner's findings.""
I the insurance claim, and the medical examiner's findings.""
I stared at the insurance policy.
Then I noticed stared at the insurance policy.
Then I noticed the date of the final payment.
The insurance company had paid Richard the date of the final payment.
The insurance company had paid Richard six weeks after my mother's death.
But the beneficiary account was not Richard's personal account.
It belonged six weeks after my mother's death.
But the beneficiary account was not Richard's personal account.
It belonged to Northstar Creative Holdings.
I looked up.
"Why to Northstar Creative Holdings.
I looked up.
"Why did the insurance money go to Eleanor's company?""
Neither man did the insurance money go to Eleanor's company?""
Neither man answered.
Then Thomas said something that made my blood run cold.
"Because Richard didn't receive the money.""
He looked directly answered.
Then Thomas said something that made my blood run cold.
"Because Richard didn't receive the money.""
He looked directly at me.
"Your mother did.""
I frowned.
"What?""
Thomas turned at me.
"Your mother did.""
I frowned.
"What?""
Thomas turned the document around.
A second beneficiary had the document around.
A second beneficiary had been added to the policy.
The name was almost been added to the policy.
The name was almost impossible to read.
But Daniel enlarged impossible to read.
But Daniel enlarged it.
*Claire Bennett Living Trust.*
My mother had apparently established a trust shortly before her death.
And someone had forged it.
*Claire Bennett Living Trust.*
My mother had apparently established a trust shortly before her death.
And someone had forged the authorization transferring its funds.
the authorization transferring its funds.
I stared at the document.
"Who signed it?""
Daniel zoomI stared at the document.
"Who signed it?""
Daniel zoomed in.
The signature was clear.
Richard Bennett.
ed in.
The signature was clear.
Richard Bennett.
But beneath it was another signature.
A witnessBut beneath it was another signature.
A witness.
*Vanessa Bennett.*
I looked at Thomas.
*Vanessa Bennett.*
I looked at Thomas.
"How old was Vanessa when Mom died?""
He swallowed.
"She was eleven.""
I felt sick.
".
"How old was Vanessa when Mom died?""
He swallowed.
"She was eleven.""
I felt sick.
"She signed a legal document at eleven?""
Thomas shook his head.
"No, Maya.""
HeShe signed a legal document at eleven?""
Thomas shook his head.
"No, Maya.""
He pointed to the date.
"She signed it last pointed to the date.
"She signed it last month.""
I left the office with the letters Thomas month.""
I left the office with the letters Thomas had written.
I didn't know whether I could ever forgive him for staying away.
But I had written.
I didn't know whether I could ever forgive him for staying away.
But I couldn't ignore the fact that someone had deliberately couldn't ignore the fact that someone had deliberately involved my stepsister in the theft of my mother's involved my stepsister in the theft of my mother's estate.
When I reached my car, my estate.
When I reached my car, my phone rang.
Vanessa.
I answered.
"What do you want?""
Her voice was unusually calm.
"We need to talk.""
phone rang.
Vanessa.
I answered.
"What do you want?""
Her voice was unusually calm.
"We need to talk.""
"About what?""
"About the documents you're collecting.""
I stared through the windshield.
"How do you know about them?""
""About what?""
"About the documents you're collecting.""
I stared through the windshield.
"How do you know about them?""
"Because I know more than you think.""
"Then tellBecause I know more than you think.""
"Then tell me why your signature is on Mom's trust me why your signature is on Mom's trust documents.""
She laughed nervously.
" documents.""
She laughed nervously.
"Those papers are none of your business.""
Those papers are none of your business.""
"They concern my inheritance.""
"Your inheritance?""
"They concern my inheritance.""
"Your inheritance?""
Her voice sharpened.
"You reallyHer voice sharpened.
"You really think you're entitled to everything?""
I gripped the steering wheel.
"Mom left the company to me.""
"She left you a mess think you're entitled to everything?""
I gripped the steering wheel.
"Mom left the company to me.""
"She left you a mess.""
"Then why have you spent.""
"Then why have you spent years trying to take it?""
Silence.
Then Vanessa said:
"Because you don't deserve years trying to take it?""
Silence.
Then Vanessa said:
"Because you don't deserve it.""
I closed my eyes.
"Why?""
"Because you got everything without even knowing it.""
I closed my eyes.
"Why?""
"Because you got everything without even knowing what it was.""
"What did I get?""
She breathed what it was.""
"What did I get?""
She breathed heavily.
Then she whispered:
"Ask Richard heavily.
Then she whispered:
"Ask Richard why he was in the hospital the night your mother died.""
My heart stopped why he was in the hospital the night your mother died.""
My heart stopped.
"What hospital?""
Vanessa hung up.
A second later, a message arrived.
It contained a photograph of an old hospital admission.
"What hospital?""
Vanessa hung up.
A second later, a message arrived.
It contained a photograph of an old hospital admission record.
Richard Bennett.
Emergency admission.
Date: the record.
Richard Bennett.
Emergency admission.
Date: the night Claire Bennett died.
And beneath the diagnosis was a handwritten note.
**Patient brought in by Eleanor Bennett night Claire Bennett died.
And beneath the diagnosis was a handwritten note.
*Patient brought in by Eleanor Bennett. Suspected overdose.*
I stared at the photograph.
. Suspected overdose.**
I stared at the photograph.
Then I called Daniel.
"There's something else," I saidThen I called Daniel.
"There's something else," I said.
"What happened?""
I sent him the image.
He called back immediately.
"M.
"What happened?""
I sent him the image.
He called back immediately.
"Maya, don't go anywhere alone.""
"Why?""
Hisaya, don't go anywhere alone.""
"Why?""
His voice was grave.
"Because if this record is genuine, your father may voice was grave.
"Because if this record is genuine, your father may not have been at the atelier that night.""
I swallowed.
"Then where was he?""
Daniel answered:
"Being treated for a suspected not have been at the atelier that night.""
I swallowed.
"Then where was he?""
Daniel answered:
"Being treated for a suspected poisoning.""
And suddenly, the story of my mother's death became much more complicated.
May you like
poisoning.""
And suddenly, the story of my mother's death became much more complicated.
Related Stories
