Chapter 10 - THE DAUGHTER’S ANGER
Anna ripped the paper in half.
Then again.
And again.
Daniel didn’t stop her.
“My mother ruined your life.”
“She was scared.”
“Stop defending her.”
“I’m not.”
“You lost eight years!”
“Yes.”
“Your brother died!”
“Yes.”
“And she disappeared!”
Daniel’s face tightened.
“You think I haven’t been angry?”
Anna stared at him.
“I hated Evelyn for years.”
That silenced her.
Daniel sat on the dock.
“When I got out, I looked for her. Your grandfather found me first.”
Helena turned.
“What did he say?”
“That Evelyn had married somebody else.”
Anna swallowed.
“He told me she wanted nothing to do with me.”
Daniel looked at the water.
“He also told me the baby died.”
Anna sat beside him.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Finally she asked, “Would you have wanted me?”
Daniel’s eyes filled.
“Yes.”
No hesitation.
No dramatic speech.
Just yes.
Anna looked away and cried.
Helena gave them space.
She walked back into the boathouse.
Something about the empty steel box bothered her.
Fresh blood.
Evelyn’s brooch.
But no drag marks.
No sign of a struggle.
She crouched.
On the underside of the floorboard, someone had scratched three letters.
M.
S.
H.
Helena photographed them.
Anna came in.
“What is that?”
“I don’t know.”
Daniel looked.
His expression changed.
“Mercy Saint Helen.”
“What?”
“It was a maternity home.”
Helena remembered.
An old church-run home outside the county where unmarried pregnant women had once stayed.
It had shut down years ago.
Daniel said, “Evelyn’s aunt worked there.”
Anna whispered, “Mom told me I was born in Maine.”
“Maybe another lie.”
They drove to the abandoned property.
The main building had been converted into apartments, but the old records office remained in a church basement.
A volunteer archivist let them search after Anna explained she was looking for her birth record.
Two hours later, they found Evelyn.
CRAWFORD, EVELYN ROSE.
Admitted October 2007.
Female infant delivered December 12.
Mother refused adoption placement.
Father listed as UNKNOWN.
A handwritten note had been stapled behind the form.
PATERNAL GRANDFATHER, RICHARD CRAWFORD, ATTEMPTED PRIVATE PLACEMENT AGAINST MOTHER’S WISHES.
Daniel turned white.
“He tried to give you away.”
Anna covered her mouth.
Another note followed.
MOTHER LEFT FACILITY WITH INFANT AFTER THREATS FROM R. CRAWFORD.
DESTINATION WITHHELD FOR SAFETY.
Signed:
SISTER MIRIAM WALKER.
The archivist frowned.
“Miriam’s still alive.”
Helena looked up.
“Where?”
“St. Agnes Residence.”
They reached the nursing home before dinner.
Sister Miriam was ninety-four, tiny, sharp-eyed and very awake.
The moment she saw Anna, she smiled.
“Evelyn’s girl.”
Anna froze.
“You remember me?”
“I carried you down the back stairs under my coat.”
Daniel stared.
Miriam looked at him.
“And you must be Daniel.”
His voice failed.
Sister Miriam reached for his hand.
“She never stopped loving you.”
Anna started crying again.
Helena leaned forward.
“Sister, Evelyn came back here recently. Do you know why?”
Miriam’s smile disappeared.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She called me.”
“When?”
“Seven days ago.”
“What did she say?”
The old woman squeezed Helena’s hand.
“She said she finally had proof.”
“Proof of what?”
“That Bell was driving.”
Helena’s pulse jumped.
“Where is the proof?”
Miriam looked toward the door.
“Evelyn hid it where your father would never think to look.”
“Where?”
May you like
Before she could answer, the fire alarm exploded through the building.
And smoke began pouring under the door.
