Evelyn agreed to meet them at the Mercer house.
She looked older than she had at the wedding, as if one interrupted ceremony had aged her years.
“I kept the letter,” she admitted.
Margaret stepped toward her. “Where?”
Evelyn led them upstairs to Richard’s old study. She removed a framed photograph and pressed on a narrow wooden panel.
Inside was a small envelope.
Margaret recognized Anna’s handwriting instantly.
She could not open it.
Claire did.
Mom,
If you are reading this, I finally became brave enough to leave.
Uncle Thomas has been taking money from the company. Richard helped him hide it, and Evelyn helped Richard hide the truth from police after I confronted them. They are all afraid of what this will do to you.
But that is not why I am leaving.
I found Michael.
Margaret stopped Claire.
“What?”
Daniel looked at her. “Your son?”
Margaret nodded slowly.
Michael had supposedly been living in California then, estranged from the family.
Claire continued.
He found me first. He told me something about Richard that I cannot put in this letter because I still don’t know who to trust.
I need time.
Please don’t follow me.
I love you.
Anna.
Margaret lowered herself into a chair.
“You stole this from me.”
Evelyn nodded.
“Why?”
“Because Richard begged me to.”
Daniel stared at his mother. “Why would Dad care if Anna left?”
Evelyn looked at him for a long time.
“Because Richard was not your biological father.”
Daniel did not move.
Claire felt the room tilt.
Evelyn continued.
“Richard and I separated briefly before you were born. I became involved with someone else.”
Margaret seemed to understand before Daniel did.
“No.”
Evelyn’s eyes filled.
“Michael Hale was Daniel’s father.”
Daniel stepped backward.
The cuff links at his wrists on the wedding day had not belonged to a stranger.
They had belonged to his biological father.
Margaret covered her mouth.
“My son had a child?”
“He never knew,” Evelyn said. “Not at first. Richard agreed to raise Daniel. Years later, Michael discovered the truth.”
“And Anna?” Claire asked.
“Michael told Anna. She realized the Mercer and Hale families were connected in ways neither side understood.”
Margaret’s grief sharpened into anger.
“Where did they go?”
“I don’t know. Michael came back alone a week later. He made me promise never to tell Daniel.”
“Why?”
Evelyn opened a drawer and removed a second envelope.
“Because Anna asked him to.”
Inside was a photograph.
Anna stood beside a road sign.
WELCOME TO PORT TOWNSEND.
On the back, in Anna’s handwriting, were six words:
I found the woman Richard feared.
Claire looked at Evelyn.
“Who was she?”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“Richard’s first wife.”
Daniel stared.
“You told me Dad had never been married before you.”
“I lied.”
“Was Anna with her?”
“I don’t know.”
Claire studied the photograph again.
In the far background, almost hidden beside a parked car, stood another woman.
Older than Anna.
Watching the camera.
Margaret leaned closer.
Her hand began to shake.
“I know her.”
“Who?” Claire asked.
Margaret whispered the name.
“Rebecca.”
Then she looked at Daniel.
“Your grandmother.”