Chapter 5: The Woman Who Knew My Father
I met the stranger the next morning at a small coffee shop three miles from my mother’s apartment.
I almost didn’t go.
Everything about it felt wrong.
Meeting someone who claimed to know secrets about my dead father.
Someone who knew about Curtis.
Someone who somehow knew I had found the account.
But curiosity was stronger than fear.
I arrived early.
I sat in the corner booth near the window.
Every person who walked through the door made me look up.
A man in a suit.
Not her.
A woman carrying groceries.
Not her.
An older couple holding hands.
Not them.
Then a woman with a black coat and silver earrings walked inside.
She looked around.
Then her eyes landed on me.
She walked over slowly.
“Jada?””
I stood.
“Yes.””
She sat across from me.
“My name is Renee Walker.””
My body stiffened.
“Walker?””
She nodded.
“I’m Curtis’s sister.””
I almost stood up.
“Why would I trust you?””
“You shouldn’t.””
Her answer surprised me.
She folded her hands on the table.
“You don’t know me. You don’t know what I want.””
“Then why are you here?””
“Because I should have said something years ago.””
The waitress came by.
Neither of us ordered.
I stared at her.
“Start talking.””
Renee nodded.
“Your father, Daniel, owned a small construction company.””
I listened.
“He wasn’t rich. But he was successful. He worked hard.””
I looked down.
I barely remembered him.
Only pieces.
His laugh.
His work boots by the door.
The smell of his jacket when he hugged me.
“He trusted people too easily,” Renee continued.
“People like Curtis?””
Her expression changed.
“Yes.””
I felt my hands tighten.
“What did he do?””
Renee looked toward the window.
“Curtis worked for your father.””
That made no sense.
“My father knew him?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“Your father hired him for several jobs.””
She paused.
“Curtis was good at making people believe he was loyal.””
I nodded slowly.
That sounded exactly right.
“What happened?””
Renee took a deep breath.
“Your father got sick.””
I knew that part.
Cancer.
Fast.
Unexpected.
“He started preparing everything before he passed. His accounts. His paperwork. His business.””
She looked at me.
“He wanted you and your mother protected.””
My throat tightened.
“Protected from what?””
“From people who would take advantage.””
I already knew the answer.
“Curtis.””
Renee nodded.
“He knew your father was worried about him.””
I stared.
“But my mother still let him in.””
“She thought she was helping.””
The same excuse.
I looked away.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
“Because it’s true.””
I looked back.
“But it doesn’t make it okay.””
“No.””
Renee reached into her purse.
She pulled out a small envelope.
“I kept this because I wasn’t sure if I should give it to you.””
My heart raced.
“What is it?””
“Something your father left behind.””
I didn’t touch it.
“Why now?””
“Because Curtis has started doing the same thing again.””
My eyebrows pulled together.
“What?””
“He finds people who feel responsible for others.””
She lowered her voice.
“People who feel guilty.””
I thought of my mother.
“She thinks she owes him.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Renee looked at the envelope.
“Because Curtis convinced her that your father left behind a debt.””
My face changed.
“A debt?””
“Yes.””
“But you said my father wanted to protect us.””
“He did.””
“Then why would my mother owe Curtis?””
Renee shook her head.
“She doesn’t.””
The answer came quickly.
“She never did.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Then what has she been paying for?””
Renee looked me directly in the eyes.
“Nothing.””
The word landed like a punch.
For years.
My mother had been sending him money.
For nothing.
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a photocopy of a handwritten letter.
My father’s handwriting.
I knew it immediately.
My eyes burned.
Jada,
If you are reading this, something happened that stopped me from telling you myself.
I stopped.
I couldn’t continue.
My father’s words.
His voice.
After all these years.
I kept reading.
The letter mentioned Curtis.
My hands started shaking.
“What does it say?””
I looked up.
“He knew.””
Renee frowned.
“He knew what?””
I looked back at the page.
“He knew Curtis was trying to take money from him.””
Renee closed her eyes.
“Keep reading.””
I did.
And then I reached the final lines.
The last sentence made my entire body go cold.
*“Monique doesn’t know the truth about Curtis, and I’m afraid by the time she does, it may already be too late.””*
I looked at Renee.
“What does that mean?””
She didn’t answer.
Instead, she looked past me.
Her face changed.
“What?””
She whispered:
“Don’t move.””
I turned slowly.
Across the coffee shop window, outside on the sidewalk…
May you like
Curtis was standing there.
Watching me.