Chapter 5: The Chapter 5: The Daughter My Mother Daughter My Mother Tried to Erase
I stared at Amara Tried to Erase
I stared at Amara Carter, unable to move.
She had my father's eyes.
Not similar eyes. Not the kind of Carter, unable to move.
She had my father's eyes.
Not similar eyes. Not the kind of resemblance people invented when they wanted two strangers to feel connected.
The exact same eyes resemblance people invented when they wanted two strangers to feel connected.
The exact same eyes.
Dark brown, with a tiny golden fleck near the left pupil.
.
Dark brown, with a tiny golden fleck near the left pupil.
I had seen them in the few photographs I owned of my father. I'd spent years studyingI had seen them in the few photographs I owned of my father. I'd spent years studying those pictures, hoping I could somehow reconstruct the face of a man I barely those pictures, hoping I could somehow reconstruct the face of a man I barely remembered.
Now his face was standing in front of me.
On a remembered.
Now his face was standing in front of me.
On a woman who was almost my age.
“You're Renee's daughter?”” I asked.
Amara nodded.
“And Michael woman who was almost my age.
“You're Renee's daughter?”” I asked.
Amara nodded.
“And Michael Carter was your father?””
“Yes.””
My stomach twisted.
I looked at Renee.
“You Carter was your father?””
“Yes.””
My stomach twisted.
I looked at Renee.
“You told me my father had another daughter. You didn't tell me she was practically my age.””
“Because I wanted to told me my father had another daughter. You didn't tell me she was practically my age.””
“Because I wanted to explain everything before you met her,” Renee said explain everything before you met her,” Renee said.
Amara let out a humorless laugh.
“You've had eighteen years to explain everything, Mom.””
Renee flinched.
I watched the exchange.
Amara let out a humorless laugh.
“You've had eighteen years to explain everything, Mom.””
Renee flinched.
I watched the exchange carefully.
There was something beneath their words, an old wound that neither woman seemed willing to touch.
Then carefully.
There was something beneath their words, an old wound that neither woman seemed willing to touch.
Then I remembered Amara's warning.
*If you want to know why your mother is pregnant, you need to know what Jordan promised me before he started sleeping with I remembered Amara's warning.
If you want to know why your mother is pregnant, you need to know what Jordan promised me before he started sleeping with her.
I turned toward her.
“What does Jordan have to do with you?””
Amara opened the her.*
I turned toward her.
“What does Jordan have to do with you?””
Amara opened the leather folder.
“Three months ago, Jordan contacted me.””
“Why?””
“He said he was your boyfriend. leather folder.
“Three months ago, Jordan contacted me.””
“Why?””
“He said he was your boyfriend. He told me he'd discovered that your mother had been hiding documents connected to your He told me he'd discovered that your mother had been hiding documents connected to your father's estate.””
I frowned.
“How would Jordan know anything about my father's estate?””
“ father's estate.””
I frowned.
“How would Jordan know anything about my father's estate?””
“Because he was looking into it.””
“Why would myBecause he was looking into it.””
“Why would my boyfriend investigate my dead father's money?””
“That's exactly what I asked him.””
Amara pulled out several printed emails.
“He said he wanted to understand why your mother had never mentioned the inheritance. He also boyfriend investigate my dead father's money?””
“That's exactly what I asked him.””
Amara pulled out several printed emails.
“He said he wanted to understand why your mother had never mentioned the inheritance. He also said he thought she was hiding something from you.””
I scanned the first email.
said he thought she was hiding something from you.””
I scanned the first email.
Jordan's name appeared at the top.
*I think Monique knows more aboutJordan's name appeared at the top.
I think Monique knows more about Michael's will than she's admitting. If we can get her Michael's will than she's admitting. If we can get her to talk, we might find out where the original documents are.
My hands to talk, we might find out where the original documents are.*
My hands went cold.
The next email was dated two weeks later.
*I need your went cold.
The next email was dated two weeks later.
*I need your help. Tiana trusts me, but her mother doesn't. If you have any information about Renee help.
Tiana trusts me, but her mother doesn't. If you have any information about Renee's relationship with Michael, please tell me.*
I looked at Amara.
“You were helping him investigate my mother's relationship with Michael, please tell me.*
I looked at Amara.
“You were helping him investigate my mother?””
“At first.””
“What changed?””
Amara hesitated.
“Jordan came?””
“At first.””
“What changed?””
Amara hesitated.
“Jordan came to see me in person. He told me he had fallen in love with you and wanted to protect you from to see me in person. He told me he had fallen in love with you and wanted to protect you from your mother's secrets.
He said he'd found evidence that Monique had interfered with your mother's secrets. He said he'd found evidence that Monique had interfered with your father's estate.””
“And you believed him?””
“I wanted to.””
She lowered her eyes your father's estate.””
“And you believed him?””
“I wanted to.””
She lowered her eyes.
“He was charming. He knew things about my father that I'd never been able to learn..
“He was charming. He knew things about my father that I'd never been able to learn. He said he understood what it felt like to grow up with missing He said he understood what it felt like to grow up with missing pieces of your family history.””
I felt sick.
Jordan had used my grief to get close to me.
Then he had pieces of your family history.””
I felt sick.
Jordan had used my grief to get close to me.
Then he had used my family's secrets to get close to my sister.
“Did you sleep with him?”” I asked.
Amara's expression hardened.
“No.””
The answer came so used my family's secrets to get close to my sister.
“Did you sleep with him?”” I asked.
Amara's expression hardened.
“No.””
The answer came so quickly that I believed her.
“But he tried to get close to me,” she continued quickly that I believed her.
“But he tried to get close to me,” she continued.
“He told me he could help me recover my father's inheritance. He said that if I trusted him, we.
“He told me he could help me recover my father's inheritance. He said that if I trusted him, we could make sure your mother couldn't take another thing from our family.””
could make sure your mother couldn't take another thing from our family.””
“Our family,” I repeated.
Amara looked at me.
“That's what he called us.””
For a moment, I couldn't“Our family,” I repeated.
Amara looked at me.
“That's what he called us.””
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then I asked the question that had been burning inside me since she stepped out of the speak.
Then I asked the question that had been burning inside me since she stepped out of the SUV.
“What did he promise you?””
Amara took a breath.
“He promised he would help me find the original SUV.
“What did he promise you?””
Amara took a breath.
“He promised he would help me find the original will. In exchange, I was supposed to give him copies will. In exchange, I was supposed to give him copies of the estate records Renee had.””
“Why?””
“Because the will named a trustee of the estate records Renee had.””
“Why?””
“Because the will named a trustee. Someone who had control over the money until both of Michael's daughters turned twenty. Someone who had control over the money until both of Michael's daughters turned twenty-five.””
I stared at her.
“Both daughters?””
“Yes.””
The inheritance suddenly seemed less important than the people circling it.
My father had left something-five.””
I stared at her.
“Both daughters?””
“Yes.””
The inheritance suddenly seemed less important than the people circling it.
My father had left something for me and Amara. Something that had been hidden for eighteen years.
And Jordan had somehow discovered it.
“Did you for me and Amara. Something that had been hidden for eighteen years.
And Jordan had somehow discovered it.
“Did you give him the documents?”” I asked.
“Some of them.””
“Amara!””
“I didn't know what he was planning!”” she snapped.
“I thought he wanted give him the documents?”” I asked.
“Some of them.””
“Amara!””
“I didn't know what he was planning!”” she snapped.
“I thought he wanted to help you. I thought he was the only person in your life who didn't know your mother well enough to be to help you. I thought he was the only person in your life who didn't know your mother well enough to be afraid of her.””
Her voice cracked.
“I was wrong.””
Renee reached for her daughter's hand.
Amara pulled away.
“Don't,” she afraid of her.””
Her voice cracked.
“I was wrong.””
Renee reached for her daughter's hand.
Amara pulled away.
“Don't,” she whispered.
“You don't get to comfort me like you didn't keep secrets, too.””
Renee's hand fell.
I looked whispered.
“You don't get to comfort me like you didn't keep secrets, too.””
Renee's hand fell.
I looked between them.
“Someone needs to tell me what's happening with my mother and Jordan.””
Amara took a deep breath.
“Jordan came to me again three weeks ago. He between them.
“Someone needs to tell me what's happening with my mother and Jordan.””
Amara took a deep breath.
“Jordan came to me again three weeks ago. He was panicking. He said Monique was pregnant, and he needed was panicking. He said Monique was pregnant, and he needed to know whether the baby would have a claim to the estate.””
I stared at her.
“That was his first concern to know whether the baby would have a claim to the estate.””
I stared at her.
“That was his first concern?””
“He kept saying he had to protect himself. He wanted to know whether an unborn child could inherit money that had been left to Michael's existing children.””
?””
“He kept saying he had to protect himself. He wanted to know whether an unborn child could inherit money that had been left to Michael's existing children.””
“And what did you tell him?””
“That I didn't know. I'm not a lawyer.””
She“And what did you tell him?””
“That I didn't know. I'm not a lawyer.””
She pulled another document from the folder.
“But then I found this.””
It was a printed pulled another document from the folder.
“But then I found this.””
It was a printed text conversation between Jordan and an unsaved number.
The first message was from Jordan.
* text conversation between Jordan and an unsaved number.
The first message was from Jordan.
She thinks the baby is mine. I need more time.
The reply came several minutes later.
You told her you'd takeShe thinks the baby is mine. I need more time.
The reply came several minutes later.
You told her you'd take responsibility. Don't make me regret trusting you.
Jordan's response made my blood run cold.
I'm trying to fix this. If the responsibility. Don't make me regret trusting you.
Jordan's response made my blood run cold.
I'm trying to fix this. If the will stays hidden, none of this matters.
I read the exchange twice.
“ will stays hidden, none of this matters.*
I read the exchange twice.
“Who was he talking to?””
Amara shook her head.
“I don't know. TheWho was he talking to?””
Amara shook her head.
“I don't know. The number is disconnected.””
I looked at the date.
October 3.
The same number is disconnected.””
I looked at the date.
October 3.
The same date my mother had written in her notebook that she told Jordan about the pregnancy.
But date my mother had written in her notebook that she told Jordan about the pregnancy.
But the message suggested something else.
Jordan had known about the baby and the inheritance at the same time.
the message suggested something else.
Jordan had known about the baby and the inheritance at the same time.
He hadn't just been hiding an affair.
He had been calculating.
“There's one more thing,” AmHe hadn't just been hiding an affair.
He had been calculating.
“There's one more thing,” Amara said.
She pulled a small envelope from the folder and handed it to me.
Inside was a photographara said.
She pulled a small envelope from the folder and handed it to me.
Inside was a photograph of Jordan standing outside a medical building.
He was beside a man I recognized of Jordan standing outside a medical building.
He was beside a man I recognized from my mother's old family photographs.
David Ellis.
The image had been taken from my mother's old family photographs.
David Ellis.
The image had been taken three weeks earlier.
On the back, someone had written:
**Paternity appointment — October 3. three weeks earlier.
On the back, someone had written:
*Paternity appointment — October 3.*
I looked up.
“What's this?””
Amara shook her head.
“I found it among**
I looked up.
“What's this?””
Amara shook her head.
“I found it among the papers Jordan gave me. I don't know why he had it.””
R the papers Jordan gave me. I don't know why he had it.””
Renee went pale.
“Let me see that.””
I handed it to her.
The moment she saw theenee went pale.
“Let me see that.””
I handed it to her.
The moment she saw the photograph, she closed her eyes.
“You knew,” I whispered.
She didn't respond photograph, she closed her eyes.
“You knew,” I whispered.
She didn't respond.
“Renee, you knew something about the pregnancy.””
She opened her eyes.
“I knew Monique had been seeing someone.
“Renee, you knew something about the pregnancy.””
She opened her eyes.
“I knew Monique had been seeing someone else.””
“Who?””
Her gaze moved toward David's name on the photograph.
Then she whispered, “ else.””
“Who?””
Her gaze moved toward David's name on the photograph.
Then she whispered, “I believe the father of that baby is David.””
I stared at her.
“David?I believe the father of that baby is David.””
I stared at her.
“David? The man who came to my mother's house?””
Renee nodded.
“He and Monique were involved The man who came to my mother's house?””
Renee nodded.
“He and Monique were involved years ago, before your father died. I thought that ended when Michael was killed. But recently years ago, before your father died.
I thought that ended when Michael was killed. But recently, David told me they had started seeing each other again.””
I felt as if the, David told me they had started seeing each other again.””
I felt as if the floor had dropped away.
“So my mother told everyone Jordan was the father because she was hiding an affair with David floor had dropped away.
“So my mother told everyone Jordan was the father because she was hiding an affair with David?””
“That's what I suspect.””
“But Jordan knew?””
“I don't?””
“That's what I suspect.””
“But Jordan knew?””
“I don't know.””
Amara took the photograph back.
“Maybe that's why he contacted know.””
Amara took the photograph back.
“Maybe that's why he contacted me. Maybe he wanted the inheritance before anyone discovered the baby wasn't his.””
I thought about Jordan me. Maybe he wanted the inheritance before anyone discovered the baby wasn't his.””
I thought about Jordan's message.
If the will stays hidden, none of this matters.
The baby.
The will.
The lies's message.
If the will stays hidden, none of this matters.
The baby.
The will.
The lies.
Everything was connected, but I couldn't yet see how.
Then Renee reached into her bag and pulled out a sealed.
Everything was connected, but I couldn't yet see how.
Then Renee reached into her bag and pulled out a sealed letter.
“This is why I came back,” she said.
The letter.
“This is why I came back,” she said.
The envelope was old, its edges softened by years of handling. My father's name was written envelope was old, its edges softened by years of handling. My father's name was written across the front in handwriting I recognized from his birthday cards.
I touched the paper with trembling fingers.
across the front in handwriting I recognized from his birthday cards.
I touched the paper with trembling fingers.
“Where did you get this?””
“Your father gave it to me shortly before he died“Where did you get this?””
“Your father gave it to me shortly before he died. I kept it because I didn't know what else to do with it.””
“Why didn't you give. I kept it because I didn't know what else to do with it.””
“Why didn't you give it to me?””
“Because the letter names the person who was supposed to protect it to me?””
“Because the letter names the person who was supposed to protect both of his daughters.””
I looked at her.
“Who?””
She shook both of his daughters.””
I looked at her.
“Who?””
She shook her head.
“Read it.””
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a single handwritten page.
To my daughters,
* her head.
“Read it.””
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a single handwritten page.
To my daughters,
If you are reading this, then I failed to give you the lifeIf you are reading this, then I failed to give you the life I wanted for you. I cannot change the past, but I can make sure neither of you is I wanted for you. I cannot change the past, but I can make sure neither of you is left with nothing.
The money is not the most important thing I am leaving left with nothing.
The money is not the most important thing I am leaving behind. The truth is.
Monique knows what happened the behind. The truth is.
Monique knows what happened the night I died. She knows why I was on that road, and she knows why someone else had night I died. She knows why I was on that road, and she knows why someone else had a reason to make sure I never came home.
Do not trust anyone who tells you my a reason to make sure I never came home.
Do not trust anyone who tells you my death was simply an accident.
And do not let anyone divide you before you learn death was simply an accident.
And do not let anyone divide you before you learn who has been protecting the secret.
My hands began to shake.
I read the final lines who has been protecting the secret.*
My hands began to shake.
I read the final lines.
*The original will is not with Renee. It is not with David. I left it with.
The original will is not with Renee. It is not with David. I left it with the one person I believed would never betray my children.
There the one person I believed would never betray my children.*
There was no signature.
Only one name written at the bottom.
**Jordan was no signature.
Only one name written at the bottom.
*Jordan.*
I looked up in disbelief.
“Jordan had my father's will?””
Renee nodded slowly.
“I.**
I looked up in disbelief.
“Jordan had my father's will?””
Renee nodded slowly.
“I believe your father gave it to him through someone else. Jordan must have found believe your father gave it to him through someone else. Jordan must have found out who held it and started looking for the original.””
“Then why would he out who held it and started looking for the original.””
“Then why would he sleep with my mother?””
No one answered.
My phone vibrated.
A message from Jordan sleep with my mother?””
No one answered.
My phone vibrated.
A message from Jordan appeared.
*I know you're with Renee and Amara. Please don't believe what appeared.
I know you're with Renee and Amara. Please don't believe what they tell you. I can explain everything, but you need to come alone.
A second message followed.
they tell you. I can explain everything, but you need to come alone.
A second message followed.
Your mother is in danger.
Before I could respond, my phone rang.
It was David.
Your mother is in danger.*
Before I could respond, my phone rang.
It was David.
I answered.
“Tiana,” he said, his voice ragged.
“You need to get away from ReneeI answered.
“Tiana,” he said, his voice ragged.
“You need to get away from Renee.””
“Why?””
“Because she's lying to you.””
I looked at Renee, who.””
“Why?””
“Because she's lying to you.””
I looked at Renee, who had gone completely still.
David continued.
“The baby Monique is carrying isn't mine had gone completely still.
David continued.
“The baby Monique is carrying isn't mine. And it isn't Jordan's, either.””
My heart stopped.
“Then whose baby is it?””
There was a long silence. And it isn't Jordan's, either.””
My heart stopped.
“Then whose baby is it?””
There was a long silence.
Then David said, “That's what I've been trying to find out since the day your mother told.
Then David said, “That's what I've been trying to find out since the day your mother told me she was pregnant.””
The line went dead.
I stared at my phone.
Across the bench me she was pregnant.””
The line went dead.
I stared at my phone.
Across the bench, Renee whispered, “Tiana, there's something about Jordan you don't know, Renee whispered, “Tiana, there's something about Jordan you don't know.””
“What?””
She looked directly into my eyes.
“Your father didn't leave him.””
“What?””
She looked directly into my eyes.
“Your father didn't leave him the will because he trusted him.””
She swallowed.
“He left it with him because Jordan's father was the last person to see Michael the will because he trusted him.””
May you like
She swallowed.
“He left it with him because Jordan's father was the last person to see Michael alive.””
