Chapter 8: Evelyn's Last## Chapter 8: Evelyn's Last Bargain
Evel Bargain
Evelyn Carter released my arm and stepped into the foyeryn Carter released my arm and stepped into the foyer.
She didn't look like a woman who had.
She didn't look like a woman who had spent years hiding a stolen child. Her cream suit was immaculate, her silver spent years hiding a stolen child. Her cream suit was immaculate, her silver hair perfectly arranged, and her black heels made almost hair perfectly arranged, and her black heels made almost no sound against the polished hardwood floor.
She looked like someone who had never been told no.
“Close the door,” she no sound against the polished hardwood floor.
She looked like someone who had never been told no.
“Close the door,” she instructed.
I ignored her.
“Where are my children?””
Evelyn glanced at Vanessa, who had instructed.
I ignored her.
“Where are my children?””
Evelyn glanced at Vanessa, who had followed us inside.
“Your children are perfectly safe, provided everyone here behaves like an followed us inside.
“Your children are perfectly safe, provided everyone here behaves like an adult.””
“Caleb is six years old. Lily is a child you've kept from her mother for years. Don't adult.””
“Caleb is six years old. Lily is a child you've kept from her mother for years. Don't talk to me about behaving like an adult.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“You sound talk to me about behaving like an adult.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“You sound remarkably like Elise.””
“Good.””
For a moment, the only remarkably like Elise.””
“Good.””
For a moment, the only sound was the ticking of an antique clock on the wall.
Then Evelyn laughed.
It wasn't a nervous laugh or sound was the ticking of an antique clock on the wall.
Then Evelyn laughed.
It wasn't a nervous laugh or an attempt to soften the atmosphere. It was the laughter of someone who had just discovered that an opponent an attempt to soften the atmosphere. It was the laughter of someone who had just discovered that an opponent had walked into a trap without realizing it.
“You think you've uncovered some terrible injustice,” had walked into a trap without realizing it.
“You think you've uncovered some terrible injustice,” she said.
“You have no idea what you're dealing with.””
“I know you took a baby from her mother.””
“I she said.
“You have no idea what you're dealing with.””
“I know you took a baby from her mother.””
“I arranged a guardianship.””
“You lied about her death.””
“Because the truth would have created unnecessary arranged a guardianship.””
“You lied about her death.””
“Because the truth would have created unnecessary complications.””
I took a step toward her.
“Tell me where Caleb is.””
Evelyn pointed toward complications.””
I took a step toward her.
“Tell me where Caleb is.””
Evelyn pointed toward the staircase.
“Upstairs. With a caregiver.””
“And Lily?””
“Also upstairs.””
“Then the staircase.
“Upstairs. With a caregiver.””
“And Lily?””
“Also upstairs.””
“Then we're leaving.””
“No.””
The word was quiet.
Absolute.
Evelyn we're leaving.””
“No.””
The word was quiet.
Absolute.
Evelyn walked to a console table and picked up a small silver bell. She rang walked to a console table and picked up a small silver bell. She rang it once.
A man appeared at the end of the hallway.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a dark suit. He glanced at it once.
A man appeared at the end of the hallway.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a dark suit. He glanced at me, then at Evelyn.
“Mrs. Carter?””
“Please escort Mr. Brooks to the library.””
I looked at me, then at Evelyn.
“Mrs. Carter?””
“Please escort Mr. Brooks to the library.””
I looked at him.
“Touch me, and you'll regret it.””
The man hesitated.
Evelyn sighed impatient him.
“Touch me, and you'll regret it.””
The man hesitated.
Evelyn sighed impatiently.
“Honestly, Daniel, must everything become a confrontation? I invitedly.
“Honestly, Daniel, must everything become a confrontation? I invited you inside because I hoped we could reach an understanding.””
“You threatened my children.””
“I offered you you inside because I hoped we could reach an understanding.””
“You threatened my children.””
“I offered you a choice.””
She turned toward Grace.
“And you brought the locket. How thoughtful.””
Grace's fingers a choice.””
She turned toward Grace.
“And you brought the locket. How thoughtful.””
Grace's fingers tightened around the chain.
“Why did you take Lily?””
Evelyn studied her.
“ tightened around the chain.
“Why did you take Lily?””
Evelyn studied her.
“Who are you?””
“Grace Miller. Eleanor Miller's daughter.””
Recognition flickered across Evelyn's face.
“AhWho are you?””
“Grace Miller. Eleanor Miller's daughter.””
Recognition flickered across Evelyn's face.
“Ah. The girl who inherited her mother's habit of asking questions.””
Grace's voice trembled.
“My. The girl who inherited her mother's habit of asking questions.””
Grace's voice trembled.
“My mother tried to protect Elise.””
“Your mother was a sentimental fool.””
“She protected a frightened mother tried to protect Elise.””
“Your mother was a sentimental fool.””
“She protected a frightened woman and a newborn baby.””
“She interfered in a private family matter.””
“You paid woman and a newborn baby.””
“She interfered in a private family matter.””
“You paid her to keep quiet.””
Evelyn's smile vanished.
For the first time, I saw real her to keep quiet.””
Evelyn's smile vanished.
For the first time, I saw real anger in her eyes.
“Be very careful, young woman. Your mother spent anger in her eyes.
“Be very careful, young woman. Your mother spent years living comfortably because I allowed her to.””
Grace stepped forward.
“She spent years afraid years living comfortably because I allowed her to.””
Grace stepped forward.
“She spent years afraid because of you.””
Evelyn lifted her chin.
“Fear is because of you.””
Evelyn lifted her chin.
“Fear is often the price of survival.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She stood beside the staircase, arms wrapped often the price of survival.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She stood beside the staircase, arms wrapped tightly around herself. She had gone pale.
“Is that what she told you?”” I asked.
“That stealing a tightly around herself. She had gone pale.
“Is that what she told you?”” I asked.
“That stealing a baby was the price of survival?””
Vanessa's eyes flashed.
“Don't.””
“Did she tell you baby was the price of survival?””
Vanessa's eyes flashed.
“Don't.””
“Did she tell you Elise was dead?””
“I said don't, Daniel.””
“Did you know Elise Elise was dead?””
“I said don't, Daniel.””
“Did you know Elise was alive when you took Lily?””
Vanessa's mouth opened.
No answer came.
Evelyn interrupted.
“Vanessa was was alive when you took Lily?””
Vanessa's mouth opened.
No answer came.
Evelyn interrupted.
“Vanessa was young. She followed my instructions because she understood what was at stake.””
“What was at stake?”” I demanded young. She followed my instructions because she understood what was at stake.””
“What was at stake?”” I demanded.
“Your reputation?””
“Our family.””
I stared at her.
“You destroyed another family to preserve.
“Your reputation?””
“Our family.””
I stared at her.
“You destroyed another family to preserve yours.””
Evelyn walked toward a pair of tall doors.
“Come into the library. yours.””
Evelyn walked toward a pair of tall doors.
“Come into the library. All of you. If you want answers, I will give them to you.””
I followed because my All of you. If you want answers, I will give them to you.””
I followed because my children were upstairs and because every second I spent arguing in the foyer was another second they remained beyond children were upstairs and because every second I spent arguing in the foyer was another second they remained beyond my reach.
The library was enormous, lined with dark wooden shelves and leather-bound books. A fire my reach.
The library was enormous, lined with dark wooden shelves and leather-bound books. A fire burned beneath a marble mantel, though the evening was warm. Family portraits hung above the burned beneath a marble mantel, though the evening was warm. Family portraits hung above the fireplace.
I stopped before the largest one.
A younger Evelyn stood in the center, wearing fireplace.
I stopped before the largest one.
A younger Evelyn stood in the center, wearing a white dress. Beside her was a young Vanessa, perhaps twelve years old.
Between them stood a little a white dress. Beside her was a young Vanessa, perhaps twelve years old.
Between them stood a little girl with dark curls.
Lily.
The photograph had been taken years earlier than the image girl with dark curls.
Lily.
The photograph had been taken years earlier than the image Marcus had shown me.
My daughter had grown up in this house.
Marcus had shown me.
My daughter had grown up in this house.
She had celebrated birthdays here, opened Christmas presents here, and learned to read beneathShe had celebrated birthdays here, opened Christmas presents here, and learned to read beneath these ceilings.
While Elise searched hospitals, lawyers, and adoption agencies, Lily had these ceilings.
While Elise searched hospitals, lawyers, and adoption agencies, Lily had been sleeping in a bedroom upstairs.
I turned away from the portrait.
“How been sleeping in a bedroom upstairs.
I turned away from the portrait.
“How could you do that to her?””
Evelyn sat behind a could you do that to her?””
Evelyn sat behind a mahogany desk.
“I gave her everything.””
“Except her mother.””
“She was mahogany desk.
“I gave her everything.””
“Except her mother.””
“She was too young to remember Elise.””
“Her mother remembered her every day.””
Evelyn's face too young to remember Elise.””
“Her mother remembered her every day.””
Evelyn's face hardened.
“Your wife was determined to destroy my daughter's future. Vanessa had hardened.
“Your wife was determined to destroy my daughter's future. Vanessa had been promised a marriage that would secure our family's position. Then Elise appeared with a baby fathered been promised a marriage that would secure our family's position. Then Elise appeared with a baby fathered by a man who had no intention of acknowledging her.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“Who was the father?””
Neither by a man who had no intention of acknowledging her.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“Who was the father?””
Neither woman answered.
Evelyn continued.
“Elise wanted money, recognition, and the freedom to expose woman answered.
Evelyn continued.
“Elise wanted money, recognition, and the freedom to expose everyone involved. She didn't understand the consequences.””
“Did you threaten her?””
“I warned everyone involved. She didn't understand the consequences.””
“Did you threaten her?””
“I warned her.””
“Did you arrange the accident that killed her?””
Vanessa gasped.
Evel her.””
“Did you arrange the accident that killed her?””
Vanessa gasped.
Evelyn's expression became unreadable.
“Your wife's death was tragic.””
“That isn't anyn's expression became unreadable.
“Your wife's death was tragic.””
“That isn't an answer.””
“No,” she said.
“It isn't.””
The room seemed to grow colder.
I moved toward the desk.
answer.””
“No,” she said.
“It isn't.””
The room seemed to grow colder.
I moved toward the desk.
“Where are my children?””
Evelyn opened a drawer and removed a folder.
“Before“Where are my children?””
Evelyn opened a drawer and removed a folder.
“Before you leave with either child, you need to understand something about Elise's past.””
She slid a document toward you leave with either child, you need to understand something about Elise's past.””
She slid a document toward me.
It was a birth certificate.
Lily's name appeared at the top.
Below it, the father's name had me.
It was a birth certificate.
Lily's name appeared at the top.
Below it, the father's name had been left blank.
But someone had written a different name in the margin.
*Daniel Brooks.*
I been left blank.
But someone had written a different name in the margin.
*Daniel Brooks.*
I stared at it.
“What is this?””
“A copy of a document Elise submitted shortly before Lily stared at it.
“What is this?””
“A copy of a document Elise submitted shortly before Lily was born.””
“That's impossible. I didn't know Elise then.””
“Exactly was born.””
“That's impossible. I didn't know Elise then.””
“Exactly.””
I looked up.
Evelyn folded her hands.
“Your wife lied to you.””
I looked up.
Evelyn folded her hands.
“Your wife lied to you about when she became pregnant. She also lied about the circumstances of Lily's birth. There are about when she became pregnant. She also lied about the circumstances of Lily's birth.
There are things about Elise you never knew, Daniel. Things that would make you question whether she was the things about Elise you never knew, Daniel. Things that would make you question whether she was the woman you believed her to be.””
I glanced at Vanessa.
She looked horrified.
“Mother, woman you believed her to be.””
I glanced at Vanessa.
She looked horrified.
“Mother, stop.””
Evelyn ignored her.
“Your wife had secrets. Perhaps she loved you. Perhaps she stop.””
Evelyn ignored her.
“Your wife had secrets. Perhaps she loved you. Perhaps she loved her children. But she was not innocent.””
I picked up the document.
The signature at the bottom rese loved her children. But she was not innocent.””
I picked up the document.
The signature at the bottom resembled Elise's, but the date was wrong. The ink was faded in places and unnmbled Elise's, but the date was wrong. The ink was faded in places and unnaturally dark in others.
It looked like a forgery.
“You expect me to believe this?””
“Iaturally dark in others.
It looked like a forgery.
“You expect me to believe this?””
“I expect you to accept that the truth is rarely as simple as you would like.””
A sound came from the expect you to accept that the truth is rarely as simple as you would like.””
A sound came from the ceiling.
Footsteps.
Then a child's voice.
“Daddy?””
Caleb.
I spun toward the door ceiling.
Footsteps.
Then a child's voice.
“Daddy?””
Caleb.
I spun toward the door.
He appeared at the top of the staircase, his face wet with tears. A man in a dark suit stood behind him, one hand resting on the.
He appeared at the top of the staircase, his face wet with tears. A man in a dark suit stood behind him, one hand resting on the railing.
“Caleb!””
My son ran down the stairs.
I caught him in my arms and railing.
“Caleb!””
My son ran down the stairs.
I caught him in my arms and held him so tightly he squeaked.
“Daddy, I held him so tightly he squeaked.
“Daddy, I was scared.””
“I know, buddy. I've got you.””
He buried his face against my neck.
I kissed was scared.””
“I know, buddy. I've got you.””
He buried his face against my neck.
I kissed his hair, his forehead, his cheeks.
“Are you hurt?””
He shook his head.
“Where his hair, his forehead, his cheeks.
“Are you hurt?””
He shook his head.
“Where's Lily?””
Caleb looked toward the staircase.
“She said you were coming.””
's Lily?””
Caleb looked toward the staircase.
“She said you were coming.””
My heart broke.
“Where is she?””
Evelyn rose from her chair.
“Lily is resting.””
My heart broke.
“Where is she?””
Evelyn rose from her chair.
“Lily is resting.””
“Bring her down.””
“No.””
I stood with Caleb in my arms.
“I'm“Bring her down.””
“No.””
I stood with Caleb in my arms.
“I'm taking my children home.””
Evelyn's composure finally cracked.
“You cannot taking my children home.””
Evelyn's composure finally cracked.
“You cannot simply walk out with a child who has been under my guardianship for six years!””
“ simply walk out with a child who has been under my guardianship for six years!””
“Your guardianship was built on fraud.””
“You have no proof.””
Grace stepped forward.
“MyYour guardianship was built on fraud.””
“You have no proof.””
Grace stepped forward.
“My mother kept your letters.””
Evelyn turned sharply.
“What?””
Grace lifted the locket.
“She mother kept your letters.””
Evelyn turned sharply.
“What?””
Grace lifted the locket.
“She kept the original documents, the payment records, and the photograph of you taking Lily from Elise.””
For the first time, Evelyn kept the original documents, the payment records, and the photograph of you taking Lily from Elise.””
For the first time, Evelyn looked genuinely frightened.
Then she lunged toward Grace.
The movement was sudden and looked genuinely frightened.
Then she lunged toward Grace.
The movement was sudden and ugly. Her hand closed around the chain, y ugly. Her hand closed around the chain, yanking it hard enough to make Grace stumble.
“Give that to me!””
I shifted Caleb intoanking it hard enough to make Grace stumble.
“Give that to me!””
I shifted Caleb into one arm and caught Evelyn's wrist with the other.
“Let go!””
She struggled one arm and caught Evelyn's wrist with the other.
“Let go!””
She struggled, her carefully arranged hair coming loose.
“You have no idea what you've done!””
Grace pulled, her carefully arranged hair coming loose.
“You have no idea what you've done!””
Grace pulled backward.
The chain snapped.
The silver locket fell to the floor.
It struck the hardwood with a sharp metallic backward.
The chain snapped.
The silver locket fell to the floor.
It struck the hardwood with a sharp metallic click, and the tiny photograph slid free.
Evelyn stared at it.
Then she looked at Grace click, and the tiny photograph slid free.
Evelyn stared at it.
Then she looked at Grace.
“You stupid girl,” she whispered.
“Your mother should have destroyed that years.
“You stupid girl,” she whispered.
“Your mother should have destroyed that years ago.””
Grace bent to retrieve the photograph.
But Vanessa moved first.
She ago.””
Grace bent to retrieve the photograph.
But Vanessa moved first.
She snatched it from the floor and stared at the back.
Her lips parted.
“Oh, my God.””
Evel snatched it from the floor and stared at the back.
Her lips parted.
“Oh, my God.””
Evelyn turned toward her.
“Give it to me.””
Vanessa backed away.
“No.””
“Vanyn turned toward her.
“Give it to me.””
Vanessa backed away.
“No.””
“Vanessa!””
“No!”” she screamed.
“You told me she was dead!””
The room fell silent.
essa!””
“No!”” she screamed.
“You told me she was dead!””
The room fell silent.
Vanessa's face crumpled.
“You told me Elise died beforeVanessa's face crumpled.
“You told me Elise died before she could tell anyone the truth. You said the photograph was destroyed. You said there she could tell anyone the truth.
You said the photograph was destroyed. You said there was nothing left to find!””
Evelyn stepped toward her.
“Give me the photograph.””
Vanessa cl was nothing left to find!””
Evelyn stepped toward her.
“Give me the photograph.””
Vanessa clutched it against her chest.
“You lied to me, too.””
And then, from the top of the staircase, Lily appeared.
Sheutched it against her chest.
“You lied to me, too.””
And then, from the top of the staircase, Lily appeared.
She wore a pale pink nightgown and held a small stuffed rabbit against her chest.
Her eyes moved from Vanessa to Evelyn, then settled wore a pale pink nightgown and held a small stuffed rabbit against her chest.
Her eyes moved from Vanessa to Evelyn, then settled on Caleb in my arms.
She took one hesitant step downward.
“Daddy?””
I stared on Caleb in my arms.
She took one hesitant step downward.
“Daddy?””
I stared at her.
My daughter.
Alive.
Standing ten feet away.
I opened my free at her.
My daughter.
Alive.
Standing ten feet away.
I opened my free arm.
“Come here, sweetheart.””
Lily began to cry.
She ran down the stairs and threw arm.
“Come here, sweetheart.””
Lily began to cry.
She ran down the stairs and threw herself against me, wrapping her arms around my waist.
Caleb reached for her.
The two children clung to each other while herself against me, wrapping her arms around my waist.
Caleb reached for her.
The two children clung to each other while I held them both, unable to speak.
For six years, they had lived apart.
For six years, Elise had believed she had lost her I held them both, unable to speak.
For six years, they had lived apart.
For six years, Elise had believed she had lost her daughter.
And now, for one impossible moment, I could almost imagine my daughter.
And now, for one impossible moment, I could almost imagine my wife standing beside us, smiling through her tears.
Then Vanessa spoke.
Her voice was broken.
“Daniel, before wife standing beside us, smiling through her tears.
Then Vanessa spoke.
Her voice was broken.
“Daniel, before you take them home, you need to know why my mother chose Elise.””
I you take them home, you need to know why my mother chose Elise.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
Vanessa glanced at Evelyn.
“Because Elise wasn't the only woman who gave birth that night.””
She looked at her.
“Why?””
Vanessa glanced at Evelyn.
“Because Elise wasn't the only woman who gave birth that night.””
She looked at Caleb.
Then at Lily.
And whispered, “One of those children wasn't looked at Caleb.
May you like
Then at Lily.
And whispered, “One of those children wasn't born to the woman who raised them.””
