Chapter 8: The Woman Who Was Never Gone

Nobody spoke after the call ended.

My father kept holding the phone against his ear.

Like he was hoping the voice would come back.

Like he was afraid it would.

“Dad?””

He slowly lowered the phone.

His face was pale.

“That was impossible.””

Vanessa stepped closer.

“Who was it?””

My father looked at her.

Then at me.

“I don’t know.””

That answer frightened me more than anything else.

My father always knew.

He knew when I was lying as a child.

He knew when something was wrong before I said a word.

But now he looked like a stranger standing in the middle of our old home.

The phone rang again.

Everyone jumped.

This time, I grabbed it.

“Hello?””

Silence.

Then breathing.

A woman’s breathing.

“Who is this?””

A pause.

Then:

“My son?””

My knees almost gave out.

I dropped the phone.

My father caught it.

“Hello?””

The voice returned.

“Arthur.””

My father’s hand began shaking.

“Who are you?””

A quiet laugh came through the speaker.

Not cruel.

Sad.

“I think you know.””

My father stepped backward.

“No.””

Vanessa looked at me.

She knew.

She knew before I did.

“Dad,” I whispered.

He looked at me.

His eyes were filled with fear.

“She’s alive.””

The words didn’t make sense.

My mother.

Alive.

Impossible.

My mother had a funeral.

I remembered standing beside her grave.

I remembered the flowers.

I remembered my father crying.

I remembered everyone saying goodbye.

But now her voice was coming from a phone.

My father put the call on speaker.

“Where are you?””

The woman answered:

“Somewhere you promised you would never look.””

My father closed his eyes.

“Why now?””

“Because your son found the truth.””

I felt a chill.

The woman continued.

“And because Richard Collins was never the only person involved.””

Vanessa stepped forward.

“Who else?””

The voice paused.

Then:

“Someone Arthur trusted more than anyone.””

My father looked at the journal.

“No.””

The woman continued.

“The person who helped destroy everything.””

I looked at my father.

“Who?””

He didn’t answer.

The woman on the phone did.

“Your father’s closest friend.””

My father’s face changed.

I had never heard that name before.

“Who was your closest friend?”” I asked.

He didn’t speak.

Then the front door opened.

All three of us turned.

A man stood in the doorway.

Older.

Gray hair.

Expensive suit.

Calm expression.

The kind of person who looked like he belonged anywhere.

My father stared at him.

“No.””

The man smiled slightly.

“Hello, Arthur.””

I looked at my father.

“Who is that?””

My father’s voice was barely audible.

“The man who helped me build everything.””

The stranger stepped inside.

“The man who saved you.””

My father shook his head.

“No.””

The stranger smiled.

“The man who protected your son.””

Vanessa moved closer to me.

“Who is he?””

My father looked at the man.

Then said the name I would never forget.

“David Walker.””

The stranger nodded.

“It’s been a long time.””

My father’s expression hardened.

“You’re supposed to be dead.””

David smiled.

“So is your wife.””

The room went completely silent.

My heart stopped.

My father stepped forward.

“What did you do?””

David looked at me.

Not my father.

Me.

And that terrified me.

“Arthur never told you the most important part.””

I felt my stomach tighten.

“What part?””

David smiled.

“The reason your mother disappeared.””

My father shouted:

“Don’t.””

But David continued.

“She didn’t die.””

A cold silence filled the house.

“She ran.””

I couldn’t breathe.

David looked directly at me.

“And she ran because she discovered the truth about your birth.””

I stared at him.

“My birth?””

My father looked horrified.

David took one more step forward.

“Your father has spent twelve years protecting you from one question.””

He paused.

Then whispered:

“Who is your real father?””