Chapter 11 - ROBERT'S CONFESSION
Robert didn't confess immediately.
He walked out.
Daniel followed him into the hospital parking lot.
I shouldn't have gone.
My incision hurt with every step.
But I refused to stay behind.
"Tell me the truth," Daniel said.
Robert stared across the parking lot.
"Your mother was unstable."
"We know."
"After the birth, she wouldn't sleep."
"Dad."
"She became convinced Matthew was sick because the hospital had done something to him."
"Did you disconnect his oxygen?"
Robert shut his eyes.
"No."
Daniel exhaled.
Then Robert continued.
"But I covered for her when she did."
Daniel's face went blank.
"What?"
"The nurse saw Margaret touching the equipment."
"You told police it was you?"
Robert nodded.
"The hospital wanted an investigation."
"Why would you do that?"
"Because your mother was terrified they'd take you away too."
Daniel laughed in disbelief.
"So you protected her."
"I protected our family."
"No. You protected her from consequences."
Robert looked at him.
"I thought she would get better."
"Did she?"
No answer.
Daniel stepped closer.
"Claire happened years later."
Robert looked away.
"You knew?"
"I suspected."
"You knew?"
"I found one of her journals."
Daniel's voice cracked.
"And you said nothing."
"I confronted her."
"Then what?"
"She promised me it would never happen again."
Daniel stared at him.
"Our child almost died because you believed her."
Robert started crying.
"I know."
"No, you don't."
Daniel pointed toward the hospital.
"My wife is stitched together because of her. My son is breathing through tubes because of her."
Robert covered his face.
"And you knew she had done this before."
"I was afraid."
"Of what?"
Robert lowered his hands.
"Of losing you."
Daniel laughed bitterly.
"You already did."
Robert's knees almost gave out.
Daniel turned away.
Then Robert said, "There's something else."
Daniel stopped.
"What now?"
Robert reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a key.
"A safety deposit box."
"Whose?"
"Margaret's."
"What's inside?"
"I don't know."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"I know only that she checks it every year around your birthday."
Daniel took the key.
"What bank?"
Robert told him.
Officer Harris later obtained a warrant.
Inside the box, investigators found cash.
Old medical documents.
Photographs.
And one sealed letter addressed to Daniel.
Written thirty-three years earlier.
By Dr. Holloway.
On the front were five words:
WHEN YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH.
Daniel opened it.
May you like
The first sentence changed everything.
Matthew was not your biological brother.
