Chapter 4: The Letter My Mother Left Behind
“Please don't let him read that.””
Vanessa's voice was barely recognizable.
For the first time since I had known her, she wasn't trying to sound reasonable. She wasn't pretending to be the patient stepmother who had spent years sacrificing everything for our family.
She was terrified.
Grandma Evelyn held the letter between her fingers.
“Why, Vanessa?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“Because Rachel was sick. She wasn't thinking clearly. Whatever she wrote, it doesn't mean anything.””
Dad stepped closer.
“Then why are you so afraid of it?””
“I told you. She was sick!””
“Then let me read it.””
Vanessa reached for the envelope.
Grandma moved it out of her reach.
“Daniel, sit down.””
“I don't want to sit down.””
“Your wife has been lying to you for years. Your daughter has been standing here begging you to believe her. And you're about to hear something that may change everything you thought you knew about your marriage. You need to listen carefully.””
Dad looked at the letter.
Then he lowered himself into the chair.
I stood beside Grandma, holding the sleeve of her purple sweater.
She unfolded the first page.
The handwriting was shaky, but I recognized it immediately.
My mother's handwriting.
Daniel, if you're reading this, I wasn't able to tell you the truth while I was still alive. I wish I could have.
Dad covered his mouth.
Grandma continued.
I know you love Vanessa. I know you want to believe she has helped us through the hardest years of our lives. I wanted to believe that too.
Vanessa turned toward the hallway.
Dad stood again.
“Stay.””
She stopped.
Grandma kept reading.
But I discovered that Vanessa has been accessing accounts that were never hers to touch. I found transfers from Maya's education fund, changes to my life insurance documents, and correspondence with someone named Marcus Bell.
Dad frowned.
“Marcus Bell?””
Grandma nodded.
“Do you recognize the name?””
Dad slowly shook his head.
Vanessa looked toward the window.
Grandma read the next paragraph.
I confronted her about the missing money. She told me I was confused. She told me that if I kept making accusations, Daniel would believe I was losing my mind.
Dad's eyes filled.
“She said that?””
Grandma nodded.
“She told me Rachel was becoming paranoid,” Dad whispered.
“She said the medication made her suspicious of everyone.””
I looked at him.
“Mom wasn't paranoid.””
He turned toward me.
“No, sweetheart.””
His voice broke.
“She wasn't.””
Grandma continued.
The worst part is that I found a bottle of medication in Vanessa's purse that didn't belong to me. My doctor has never prescribed it. I don't know why she had it, and I don't know whether it has anything to do with my recent episodes.
Dad gripped the back of the chair.
“What medication?””
Grandma examined the letter.
“Rachel didn't write the name here.””
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
“This is ridiculous. I brought her medication from the pharmacy sometimes. She was too weak to go herself.””
Dad turned.
“Then why didn't you say that?””
“Because I didn't think I needed to explain every little thing I did!””
“It's not a little thing if she was taking medication she hadn't been prescribed.””
“She wasn't taking anything dangerous!””
Grandma raised her eyes.
“How would you know?””
Vanessa fell silent.
Dad walked to the kitchen window and stared into the darkness.
For a long time, he said nothing.
Then he asked, “Did you give Rachel medication that wasn't prescribed to her?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
“Look at me.””
She looked up.
“No,” she repeated.
Grandma folded the letter.
“Then an independent investigation should settle that question.””
Vanessa let out a frustrated breath.
“You can't investigate me because of a letter written by someone who was dying.””
“No,” Grandma replied.
“But we can investigate financial records, prescription records, and medical records.””
Vanessa grabbed her purse.
“I'm leaving.””
Dad didn't stop her this time.
He simply said, “Don't take anything from this house.””
She glared at him.
“Excuse me?””
“Not Rachel's things. Not Maya's things. Nothing from the study. Nothing from the filing cabinet.””
“You cannot be serious.””
“I'm completely serious.””
Vanessa looked at me.
For a second, her expression became cold enough to make me step closer to Grandma.
“You should be careful what you wish for, Maya.””
Dad moved between us.
“Don't speak to her.””
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“Now you're protecting her?””
“Yes.””
One word.
But it was the first time that evening he had chosen me without hesitation.
Vanessa stormed upstairs.
A bedroom door slammed.
Dad sank into the chair again.
“Evelyn, how long have you known?””
Grandma placed the letter on the table.
“I suspected something was wrong when Rachel called me. I didn't have the full picture. I tried to get her to speak with an attorney, but she was frightened about what would happen if you found out.””
“Why would she think I'd believe Vanessa?””
Grandma looked at him sadly.
“Because you already had.””
Dad lowered his head.
I watched him.
I wanted to hug him.
I also wanted him to understand that saying sorry wouldn't erase the moment he had pointed toward the hallway and told me to pack my things.
“Grandma,” I whispered, “what happens now?””
She squeezed my hand.
“Now we find out what your mother was trying to protect you from.””
Dad looked up.
“I want the medical records.””
Grandma nodded.
“I brought copies.””
She opened her handbag again and removed a thick folder secured with a rubber band.
Inside were hospital discharge papers, prescription lists, pharmacy receipts, and several handwritten notes from my mother.
Dad began sorting through them.
Then he stopped.
One document had a red circle drawn around a date.
The date was three days before Mom died.
He read the heading twice.
“What is this?””
Grandma leaned closer.
“A medication reconciliation report.””
Dad's fingers trembled.
“This says Rachel's prescription was changed.””
“According to the hospital records, yes.””
“Who authorized it?””
Grandma pointed to a signature near the bottom.
Dad stared at it.
It was his name.
But he shook his head.
“I didn't sign this.””
I moved closer.
“Dad?””
He looked at Grandma.
“Someone forged my signature.””
Before Grandma could answer, footsteps sounded on the stairs.
Vanessa appeared at the top.
She had changed out of her burgundy shirt into a dark jacket. Her purse was over her shoulder.
Dad held up the document.
“Vanessa, did you authorize this prescription change?””
She looked at the page.
Then at him.
And for the first time, she didn't deny anything immediately.
She simply said:
“You don't know what Rachel was like during those final days.””
Dad stood.
“I asked you a question.””
Vanessa descended the stairs slowly.
Then she said something none of us expected.
“I wasn't the only person who knew about that medication.””
Grandma went completely still.
Dad stared at her.
“What does that mean?””
Vanessa looked directly at him.
“It means you should ask your mother what she was doing at the hospital the night Rachel collapsed.””
And before anyone could stop her, she opened the front door.
Outside, a black car was waiting.
A man sat behind the steering wheel.
Vanessa walked toward it.
Dad rushed to the doorway.
“Vanessa! Who is that?””
She didn't turn around.
But the driver lowered his window.
May you like
And Grandma whispered a name.
“Marcus Bell.””
