Chapter 7: The Little Girl Who Had My Husband's Necklace
Daniel stared at the photograph.
The little girl on the swing couldn't have been more than two years old. She wore a pale blue dress, white shoes, and a silver necklace with a tiny heart-shaped pendant.
Natalie recognized it immediately.
Michael had worn that necklace around his neck for years before giving it to her on their first wedding anniversary.
After his death, she had searched everywhere for it.
She had assumed it was buried with him.
Now it was hanging around the neck of a child she had never seen before.
“Where did you get this?”” Daniel asked.
Natalie shook her head.
“Someone sent it to me.””
Jonathan leaned over the desk.
“Look at the background.””
Behind the little girl was a white garden fence and a large stone fountain.
Daniel recognized the location.
His mother's private country estate.
“She has the child,” he whispered.
Natalie zoomed in on the girl's face.
There was something familiar about her eyes.
Not just their color.
The shape.
The way the corners turned slightly downward when she smiled.
Natalie looked at Daniel.
“Do you recognize her?””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
Then he looked at the silver necklace again.
“Whoever sent this knows exactly what they're doing.””
His phone rang.
The caller ID showed Margaret's name.
Daniel answered immediately.
“Where is the child?””
Margaret's voice was calm.
“Good morning to you too, darling.””
“Don't play games with me.””
“I'm not playing games.””
“Who is the little girl in that photograph?””
A pause.
Then Margaret laughed softly.
“Perhaps you should ask Natalie. She seems to know more about this family than anyone.””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“I'm coming to the estate.””
“I wouldn't recommend it.””
“Why?””
“Because once you see what's there, you may wish you hadn't.””
The call ended.
Daniel grabbed his keys.
Natalie stood.
“I'm coming with you.””
He hesitated.
“You should rest.””
“I've spent two years grieving a man whose death may have been arranged by your mother. I'm coming.””
Daniel looked at her swollen eyes.
Then he nodded.
“Jonathan, contact the authorities. We're going to the estate.””
The country estate was nearly an hour outside the city.
Margaret had inherited it from Daniel's grandfather and rarely visited except for private gatherings.
The property was surrounded by tall iron gates and rows of cypress trees.
When Daniel's car approached, the security guard stepped forward.
“Mr. Hawthorne.””
“Open the gate.””
“Mrs. Hawthorne instructed us not to admit visitors.””
Daniel lowered his window.
“I'm her son.””
The guard hesitated.
“I'm sorry, sir.””
Daniel stared at him.
“Then call her and tell her I'm here.””
The guard made the call.
Less than a minute later, the gates opened.
Natalie looked through the windshield.
A woman stood on the terrace.
Margaret.
Beside her was a little girl.
The child was holding a stuffed rabbit.
Natalie felt her breath catch.
It was the same little girl from the photograph.
Margaret walked down the steps.
“Daniel. What a surprise.””
He stepped out of the car.
“Who is she?””
Margaret glanced at Natalie.
“You brought her?””
“She has as much right to ask questions as I do.””
Margaret smiled without warmth.
“That's debatable.””
Daniel pointed toward the little girl.
“Tell me who she is.””
Margaret rested a hand on the child's shoulder.
“This is Lily.””
“Lily what?””
“Lily Collins.””
Natalie's knees weakened.
Collins.
Her husband's surname.
She stepped closer.
“Where did she come from?””
Margaret looked directly at her.
“Your husband left more behind than you realize.””
Natalie swallowed.
“Is she Michael's daughter?””
Margaret didn't answer.
Instead, she bent toward the child.
“Lily, sweetheart, why don't you go inside?””
The little girl looked up.
“Grandma, is Daddy coming?””
Daniel froze.
Natalie stared.
“Daddy?””
Margaret quickly straightened.
“She's confused.””
Lily pointed at Daniel.
“That's Daddy?””
Daniel felt his heart pound.
“Why does she think I'm her father?””
Margaret's face tightened.
“Children say all sorts of things.””
Natalie looked at the little girl.
“Hello, sweetheart. What's your name?””
“Lily.””
“Do you know who your mommy is?””
Lily shook her head.
“Grandma says Mommy is far away.””
Natalie felt tears gathering.
Then Lily looked at her.
“You look like the lady in my picture.””
“What picture?””
Lily pointed toward the house.
“The one Grandma keeps in the office.””
Margaret grabbed her hand.
“That's enough.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Let her speak.””
Margaret's expression hardened.
“Don't give me orders in my own house.””
Daniel looked at his mother.
“Then tell me the truth in your own house.””
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Finally, Margaret turned toward the entrance.
“Come inside.””
The office smelled of old leather and expensive perfume.
A large family portrait hung above the fireplace.
Daniel noticed something immediately.
The photograph of his late wife had been removed.
In its place was a framed picture of Lily.
He walked toward the desk.
“Where are the original documents?””
Margaret sat down.
“What documents?””
“The adoption papers.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“Richard has been talking too much.””
Natalie stepped forward.
“Is Lily my husband's daughter?””
Margaret sighed.
“Michael was involved with Emily.””
Daniel went completely still.
“What?””
Margaret continued as if discussing an ordinary business arrangement.
“Your wife became pregnant before her death. She didn't want you to know.””
Daniel shook his head.
“Emily died three years ago.””
“Yes.””
“And Michael died two years ago.””
Margaret looked at him.
“Exactly.””
Natalie felt the room spinning.
“Are you saying Michael and Emily had a child together?””
Margaret nodded.
“Lily was born shortly before Michael's accident.””
Daniel gripped the edge of the desk.
“That makes no sense.””
“Emily was unhappy, Daniel. She and Michael had been seeing each other.””
“No.””
“You were always traveling. She felt neglected.””
Daniel shook his head.
“Stop.””
Margaret opened a drawer and removed a document.
“Here is the adoption arrangement.””
Daniel looked at it.
The paperwork listed Margaret as Lily's temporary guardian.
The biological parents' information was partially obscured.
But there was one detail that made his stomach tighten.
The date of birth.
Lily had been born on October fourteenth.
The same day Michael had his accident.
Natalie looked at the document.
“Who signed this?””
Margaret closed the folder.
“It's none of your concern.””
Daniel's voice became dangerously quiet.
“You've been raising a child connected to my wife and Natalie’s husband for two years, and you expect me to accept that?””
Margaret stood.
“I was protecting everyone.””
“From what?””
“From the truth.””
Before Daniel could respond, Lily appeared in the doorway.
She was holding the stuffed rabbit.
“Grandma?””
Margaret turned.
“Go back to your room.””
Lily looked frightened.
“Can I see Daddy?””
Daniel knelt.
“Sweetheart, who told you I was your daddy?””
Lily pointed at the family photograph on the desk.
“Grandma.””
Daniel looked at the photograph.
It showed him holding a newborn baby in a hospital room.
He recognized the blanket.
He recognized the date.
But he had never seen the picture before.
And he had never held that baby.
His mother had apparently placed his face in a photograph taken during an event he hadn't attended.
Daniel stood slowly.
“Mom, what have you done?””
Margaret's expression changed.
For the first time, she looked genuinely frightened.
Outside the estate, Jonathan arrived with two investigators.
Daniel had called him before entering the property.
The investigators asked Margaret to provide the original adoption documents.
She refused.
“This is a private family matter.””
One investigator showed her the preliminary legal authorization.
“We have reason to believe these records may be connected to financial fraud and the concealment of a child's identity.””
Margaret stared at him.
“You cannot come into my home and take things.””
“We're not asking you to surrender anything without proper authority.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Then give them the documents voluntarily.””
Margaret looked at him with wounded disbelief.
“You would destroy your own mother?””
Daniel's voice broke.
“You destroyed my family.””
Then Lily began crying.
Natalie immediately knelt beside her.
“What's wrong, sweetheart?””
Lily pointed toward the staircase.
“Grandma said I have to go away if I tell anyone.””
Natalie felt her blood run cold.
“Go away where?””
Lily shook her head.
“She said a lady would take me.””
Margaret snapped.
“Lily! Stop talking!””
The little girl flinched.
Daniel turned.
“Don't shout at her.””
Margaret's hands began trembling.
Then Lily whispered something that made the entire room fall silent.
“Grandma said Mommy is the lady who looks like Natalie.””
Natalie stared at her.
“What?””
Lily nodded.
“There's a picture of Mommy in the bedroom.””
Daniel looked at Margaret.
“Where is that picture?””
Margaret said nothing.
Lily pointed upstairs.
“Come. I'll show you.””
And when Daniel followed the child into the bedroom, he found a photograph that made him question everything he thought he knew about his late wife.
Emily was standing beside Michael.
Her hand rested on his shoulder.
And in the corner of the photograph was a date written in black ink.
Three months before Michael's death.
May you like
But it was the writing beneath the photograph that truly destroyed him.
For Michael, my love. Until we can finally be together.
