Chapter 44 - THE WOMAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH
My grandmother's name was Eleanor Reed.
I had one photograph of her.
She was smiling.
Elegant.
Perfectly dressed.
My mother had always told me she was kind.
Now I learned that was a lie.
“She controlled the family,” my mother said.
“Why?”
“Money.”
“What did she want?”
“The trust.”
“But why?”
“Because your grandfather refused to give it to her.”
I looked at the photograph.
“What did she do?”
“She threatened your father.”
“Then he disappeared.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't he take me?”
My mother started crying.
“Because Eleanor threatened to kill you.”
I felt numb.
“So Dad left me to save me.”
“Yes.”
“And you helped him.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you let me believe he was dead?”
“Because Eleanor was watching you.”
I closed my eyes.
All my childhood memories suddenly felt different.
Every birthday.
Every school event.
Every time my mother checked the curtains.
Every time she told me not to speak to strangers.
It hadn't been paranoia.
It had been fear.
Then my grandfather spoke.
“There is something else.”
I looked at him.
“Your grandmother didn't disappear.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“She has been alive all these years.”
“Where?”
He looked at the photograph.
“Under another name.”
My mother whispered:
“Victoria.”
I froze.
“The woman from Julian's wedding?”
She nodded.
“No.”
I shook my head.
“That can't be.”
May you like
But my mother looked directly at me.
“It can.”
