Chapter 6: Grandma's Secret
I stared at the photograph.
Grandma stood behind me, but I could feel her body become completely still.
The picture showed a hospital corridor.
Marcus Bell was wearing a gray coat. Vanessa stood beside him, holding a folder.
And several feet behind them was Grandma Evelyn.
The date printed beneath the photograph was three days earlier.
Dad picked it up.
“Mom?””
Grandma didn't answer.
“Why were you at the hospital with Vanessa and Marcus?””
She slowly pulled out a chair.
“Because I was looking for something Rachel left behind.””
Dad stared at her.
“You told me you hadn't seen either of them.””
“I told you I hadn't spoken to them.””
“That's not what I asked.””
Grandma looked at me.
Then she looked at Laura.
“I think it's time Daniel knows everything.””
Dad's face tightened.
“What haven't you told me?””
Grandma folded her hands.
“Three days ago, I received a letter from someone claiming to have information about Rachel's final hospital admission.””
“Who sent it?””
“Marcus.””
Dad stepped backward.
“Why would he contact you?””
“Because he wanted something.””
“What?””
“Rachel's original medical file.””
Laura immediately leaned forward.
“Did you give it to him?””
“No.””
“Did he see it?””
Grandma shook her head.
“He never got near it.””
Dad looked at the photograph again.
“Then why were you all standing together?””
Grandma took a breath.
“Because I agreed to meet him.””
The kitchen seemed smaller.
I held the edge of the table.
“Grandma, were you helping Vanessa?””
Her face changed immediately.
“Oh, sweetheart. No.””
“Then why?””
Grandma reached for my hand.
“Because I wanted to know what happened to your mother.””
She paused.
“And because Marcus told me something that I couldn't ignore.””
Dad sat down.
“What?””
Grandma looked toward Laura.
“Marcus said Vanessa had been keeping a second set of financial records. He claimed she had been paying someone to alter Rachel's medical paperwork.””
Laura's expression sharpened.
“Did he provide evidence?””
“He showed me copies of transfers and several emails.””
“Where are they?””
Grandma pointed toward her handbag.
“I kept them.””
Laura opened the bag carefully and removed a sealed plastic envelope.
Inside were printed emails and bank transfer records.
She examined them one by one.
Then she stopped.
“Mr. Carter, I need you to look at this.””
Dad moved closer.
The document showed a transfer of money from Rachel's trust into a company registered under a different name.
The recipient was listed as Bell Financial Consulting.
The date was two months before Mom died.
Dad shook his head.
“I've never heard of that company.””
Laura pointed to the registered address.
“It's a business Marcus controls.””
Grandma nodded.
“He told me Vanessa had arranged several payments through that company.””
Dad looked at her.
“Why didn't you tell me sooner?””
“Because I didn't know whether Marcus was telling the truth. He could have been trying to blame Vanessa to save himself.””
Laura nodded.
“That was wise. We'll need to authenticate these records.””
She continued sorting through the papers.
Then she found an email printed on a separate sheet.
The sender was Vanessa.
The recipient was Marcus.
The subject line read:
*Rachel's Last Hospital Stay.*
Dad's hands began to shake.
Laura read the first few lines silently.
Then she looked up.
“I think you should read this yourself.””
Dad took the paper.
His eyes moved across the page.
Once.
Twice.
Then he sat down heavily.
“What does it say?”” I asked.
He didn't answer.
Grandma gently took the paper from him and read it aloud.
Marcus, I need you to confirm that the original prescription records have been replaced. Daniel must never find out that the medication was changed. If he starts asking questions, remind him that Rachel was already very ill.
Grandma stopped.
Dad stared at her.
She continued.
Once the hospital closes the case, there will be no reason for anyone to look backward. Maya will be staying with Evelyn, and Daniel will finally be able to move on.
My stomach tightened.
I looked at Dad.
“Was Mom's medicine changed?””
He covered his face.
“I don't know, sweetheart.””
Laura spoke carefully.
“We cannot conclude that the medication caused Rachel's death based on this email. That requires a medical investigation. But it is serious evidence of possible interference with her medical records.””
Grandma nodded.
“That's why I agreed to meet Marcus.””
Dad looked at her.
“Did he tell you Vanessa changed the medication?””
“He claimed Vanessa had obtained medication under a false prescription. But he also admitted he helped alter some of the financial documents.””
Laura's expression hardened.
“Did he admit to changing medical records?””
“He said he had access to someone who could make the changes.””
“Who?””
Grandma shook her head.
“He wouldn't tell me without protection.””
Laura closed the folder.
“That's something investigators need to address.””
Dad stood and walked toward the window.
For several seconds, he watched the empty street.
Then he turned.
“Mom, there's another question.””
Grandma looked at him.
“Why did Vanessa want Maya sent to live with you?””
Grandma's eyes softened.
“Because Rachel made sure I was named as the temporary guardian if something happened to you.””
Dad frowned.
“What?””
“Rachel didn't want Maya to be placed with someone she didn't know if you became unable to care for her.””
Dad stared at her.
“She made you her guardian?””
“She made arrangements. The paperwork was completed before she died.””
I looked at Grandma.
“Does that mean I have to leave Dad?””
“No, sweetheart.””
She held my hands.
“It means your mother wanted to make sure you would always have a safe place.””
Dad came toward us.
“You're not leaving me, Maya.””
I looked at him.
“I don't want to leave you.””
He knelt beside my chair.
“But I understand why you're afraid.””
His eyes were red.
“I made a terrible mistake tonight. I listened to someone else's accusation instead of listening to my own daughter. I can't change that, but I can make sure it never happens again.””
I looked at his face.
“Will you believe me next time?””
He swallowed.
“Every time.””
Grandma touched my shoulder.
“Your father has to earn back your trust, sweetheart. Promises are a beginning, not proof.””
Dad nodded.
“I know.””
Laura gathered the papers.
“We need to make copies of everything and secure the original documents. The authorities may need to speak with all of you.””
Dad agreed.
But just as Laura reached for her briefcase, the front door opened.
We all turned.
Vanessa stood in the doorway.
Her hair was disheveled, and her burgundy shirt was now wrinkled beneath her jacket.
She wasn't alone.
Marcus Bell stood behind her.
He was carrying a brown leather folder.
Dad stepped forward.
“You have a lot of nerve coming back here.””
Vanessa ignored him.
She looked at Grandma.
“Where is it?””
Grandma didn't move.
“Where is what?””
“The original letter.””
Laura stood immediately.
“Ms. Carter, you need to leave.””
Vanessa laughed.
“I am still legally married to Daniel. I have every right to be here.””
Dad shook his head.
“Not anymore.””
Vanessa's face hardened.
“You don't understand what you're doing.””
Marcus placed the folder on the kitchen island.
“Let's stop pretending this is about Rachel.””
Dad looked at him.
“Then what is it about?””
Marcus opened the folder.
Inside was a stack of documents.
“It's about the fact that Rachel didn't tell you everything.””
Grandma's expression changed.
Marcus smiled faintly.
“She left something out of her story.””
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“Tell him.””
Marcus pulled out a single sheet of paper.
It was a medical document.
Dad took it.
His eyes widened.
“What is this?””
Marcus leaned closer.
“Rachel had a medical condition she never told you about.””
Dad stared at the document.
“That isn't possible.””
Vanessa finally spoke.
“She was hiding something from you, Daniel. Something important.””
Grandma stood.
“Don't.””
Marcus ignored her.
He pointed to the signature at the bottom.
“Ask your mother why she kept this document from you.””
Dad looked at Grandma.
“Is it real?””
Grandma's face had lost its color.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she looked directly at Marcus.
“You were never supposed to have that.””
Marcus smiled.
“Neither were you supposed to have Rachel's final letter.””
I moved closer to Dad.
“What does the paper say?””
He looked at me.
His expression was unlike anything I had ever seen.
Not anger.
Not suspicion.
Pure disbelief.
Then he whispered:
“It says your mother had another child.””
The room fell silent.
Vanessa looked at me.
Marcus closed the folder.
May you like
And Grandma, with tears gathering in her eyes, finally said:
“Daniel, there's something Rachel wanted to tell you about your daughter.””
