Chapter 9 - His Mother’s Secret
Diane Hale lived thirty minutes outside the city in a stone house that looked more like a private club than a home.
Evan had spent his childhood learning that appearances mattered.
Tonight, appearances were finished.
He knocked once and walked in.
Maya followed.
Diane came down the staircase wearing a silk robe.
“Evan?”
He held up the hospital security still.
“You were there.”
Diane stopped.
Maya watched her carefully.
“You were at the hospital the night Lily died.”
Diane’s mouth tightened.
“I came to support my granddaughter.”
“You never came into the room,” Maya said.
“I couldn’t.”
“Why?”
Diane looked at Evan.
“Because I knew you were calling him.”
Evan’s eyes narrowed.
“What did you do?”
Diane’s composure cracked.
“I knew about Ava.”
Maya laughed bitterly. “Apparently everyone did except me.”
Diane ignored her.
“I thought if you answered Maya from Napa, the entire family would explode. Your marriage, the company, the merger—everything.”
Evan stared at his mother.
“So you wanted me unreachable?”
“I wanted one night to think.”
“One night?”
“I asked Rachel to keep you away from your phone.”
Rachel had told police she did not know why Diane paid her.
Now the pieces connected.
Maya stepped closer.
“Did you take Lily’s letter?”
Diane looked toward the fireplace.
That was enough.
Evan’s voice rose. “Mom.”
Diane flinched.
“I took it because Lily wrote about hearing you say you wanted a life without responsibilities.”
Evan went pale.
“I never said that.”
“You said something close enough.”
“Where is the letter?”
Diane walked to a desk.
From a locked drawer she removed a lavender envelope.
Maya’s knees weakened.
Lily’s handwriting.
DAD.
Diane held it out.
“I thought I was protecting you.”
Evan did not take it.
“You stole my daughter’s last letter while she was dying.”
“I panicked.”
“You let me come home not knowing.”
Diane’s eyes filled. “I thought Maya would tell you before you arrived.”
Maya’s voice was ice.
“I was busy burying my child.”
Diane looked away.
Evan finally opened the envelope.
Inside was one sheet of hospital stationery.
He read the first line.
Then his hands began to shake.
Maya took the paper.
Lily had written:
Dad, I heard you say you wanted a different life. If it’s because of me, I’m sorry I need you so much.
Maya stopped.
There was more.
May you like
At the bottom Lily had written one sentence that destroyed every excuse Evan had left.
Mom doesn’t know I heard you.
