Chapter 1 - THE QUESTION MARGARET REFUSED TO ANSWER
Daniel held the folded note between his fingers while the entire room sank into silence.
“Take them to their father before Margaret finds them.”
He read the sentence again.
Then he looked directly at his mother.
“Why does this note mention you?”
Margaret’s face tightened.
“It could have been written by anyone.”
Daniel lifted the silver medallion.
“And this?”
“Claire owned one exactly like it.”
Margaret folded her arms as though Daniel were the one being unreasonable.
“Claire was sick for months.”
“She was confused near the end.”
Daniel’s jaw hardened.
“Do not use my dead wife’s illness to avoid answering me.”
Ethan stepped between them.
“Daniel, calm down.”
“We are standing in a room with two abandoned children and a note accusing Mom of something.”
“This is not the time to calm down.”
Ivy gripped Daniel’s trouser leg tighter.
Skye hid behind her sister and stared at Margaret with frightened eyes.
Margaret noticed.
For one brief second, something cold passed across her face.
“Those girls need to leave tonight.”
Daniel slowly turned toward her.
“They are not going anywhere.”
Lauren gave a sharp laugh.
“You do not even know who they are.”
Daniel looked down at Ivy and Skye.
“I know they were left hungry and barefoot outside my house.”
“That is enough for tonight.”
Margaret reached for the note.
Daniel pulled it away.
“Give that to me.”
“No.”
“It belongs to this family.”
Daniel’s expression became still.
“Then you just admitted you know where it came from.”
Margaret froze.
Ethan looked at her.
Lauren stopped smiling.
Daniel stepped closer.
“Tell me the truth.”
Margaret’s voice dropped to a whisper.
“The truth will destroy everything Claire tried to protect.”
Before Daniel could respond, Ivy pointed toward Margaret’s handbag.
“Mommy Helen had that picture.”
Everyone turned.
A small photograph was sticking out of Margaret’s open purse.
The photograph showed Claire standing beside a pregnant woman.
May you like
And written across the bottom were two words.
“Our daughters.”
