Chapter 11 - REBECCA’S LETTER
By sunrise, nobody had slept.
Thomas found more than the tape.
Buried inside the same box was an old envelope.
He had forgotten it existed.
Rebecca Hale.
That name was written across the front.
Richard recognized the handwriting immediately.
His knees nearly gave out.
“She wrote this.”
The envelope had never been opened.
“Why do you have it?” Ethan asked Thomas.
“I found it behind a radiator in the maintenance hall after she died. I was going to give it to administration.”
“But you didn’t?”
“The investigation into the stolen medication started that same week. Victoria threatened me. I boxed everything up.”
Thomas handed it to Ethan.
“I’m sorry.”
Ethan stared at the envelope.
Maya stood beside him.
“You don’t have to read it right now.”
“Yes, I do.”
He opened it carefully.
Inside were four handwritten pages.
He read silently at first.
Then his breathing changed.
Maya touched his shoulder.
“What does it say?”
He tried to speak.
Couldn’t.
Finally, he handed her the first page.
Maya read.
Rebecca had written the letter to Richard.
She said Victoria had visited her several times.
She claimed Victoria pressured her to sign papers giving up parental rights immediately.
Rebecca refused because she wanted Richard to raise Ethan but wanted Ethan to know who she was.
She wanted letters saved for him.
Photographs.
Her family history.
Her name.
Victoria had promised to help.
According to the letter, that promise changed after Richard proposed to Victoria.
Rebecca wrote:
Victoria says a clean break would be healthier for everyone. I think she means healthier for her.
Maya stopped reading.
“Oh my God.”
Ethan took the page back.
His eyes were red.
Richard whispered, “There were supposed to be letters?”
Ethan looked at Victoria.
“Where are they?”
Victoria folded her arms tightly.
“I don’t know.”
“Where are they?”
“I said I don’t know.”
“Rebecca gave you letters for me.”
“I don’t remember.”
Ethan stared at her.
“You remember everything.”
Victoria looked away.
Maya watched her.
“You kept them.”
Victoria didn’t answer.
“You kept them,” Maya repeated.
Richard’s voice hardened.
“Where?”
Victoria shook her head.
“No.”
Ethan stepped toward her.
“Where are my mother’s letters?”
Victoria started crying.
Real tears this time.
But Ethan didn’t move.
“Where?”
Finally, Victoria whispered, “Storage.”
Richard frowned.
“What storage?”
“The unit on Mason Street.”
Richard’s eyes widened.
“You told me that was your mother’s furniture.”
“Some of it is.”
Ethan grabbed his keys.
Maya followed.
Victoria caught his arm.
“Please don’t go.”
He pulled away.
“Why?”
“Because you hate me now.”
“I don’t know what I feel.”
“You’re my son.”
Ethan looked directly into her eyes.
“Then you should have trusted me with the truth.”
He walked out.
The storage facility opened at seven.
By seven fifteen, they were standing inside unit 203.
Boxes filled the space.
Old chairs.
Holiday decorations.
Family photo albums.
Maya found the metal trunk first.
It was locked.
Ethan used a tire iron from his car.
The lock snapped.
Inside were dozens of letters tied with faded blue ribbon.
Baby photographs.
Hospital bracelets.
A silver necklace.
And one sealed legal envelope.
Ethan opened it.
Inside was a copy of Rebecca’s will.
He read the first page.
Then looked at Maya.
“What?”
He held it out.
Rebecca had left Ethan an inheritance.
A trust.
And according to the document, he should have received control of it when he turned twenty-five.
Ethan looked at his father.
Richard shook his head slowly.
“I never knew.”
Maya’s eyes moved to Victoria.
She wasn’t crying anymore.
May you like
Ethan asked the question everyone was thinking.
“Where’s the money?”
