Chapter 11 - THE GRANDMOTHER'S SECRET
Margaret Blackwood had remained silent for six years.
Now Clara understood why.
She knew.
Not everything.
But enough.
Margaret admitted Vanessa had told her Noah’s mother was alive.
She had also known Clara had once attempted to contact Adrian.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Adrian’s voice shook.
Margaret looked at her son.
“Because Charles convinced me Clara wanted money.”
Clara almost laughed.
Again.
Money.
Always money.
Margaret looked ashamed.
“I believed him.”
“You chose to believe him.”
Adrian’s words hurt more.
Margaret nodded.
“Yes.”
Her custody petition claimed both Adrian and Clara were emotionally compromised by the scandal.
But under questioning, the real reason emerged.
She feared Clara would take Noah away.
Clara stood outside the courtroom during recess.
Margaret approached.
“You hate me.”
“No.”
Margaret seemed surprised.
Clara continued.
“I don’t know you well enough to hate you.”
That hurt more.
Margaret lowered her eyes.
“I watched you care for Noah.”
“You thought I was a maid.”
“I thought you were wonderful with him.”
“But not wonderful enough to be his mother?”
Margaret had no answer.
Clara stepped closer.
“You all keep talking about what Noah deserves.”
“But for six years, nobody asked what I deserved.”
Margaret’s eyes filled.
“You’re right.”
Clara nodded.
“I know.”
Margaret withdrew the petition that afternoon.
Before leaving, she handed Clara an envelope.
“I found this in Charles’s safe.”
Inside was Clara’s first letter to Adrian.
The one she wrote before Noah was born.
Adrian read it that evening.
It contained no request for money.
No demand.
Only one sentence about the future.
I don’t know what we will become to each other, Adrian, but I hope our child grows up knowing he was wanted by both of us.
Adrian folded the letter carefully.
Then looked at Clara.
May you like
“He will.”
For the first time, she believed him.
