Chapter 5 - THE LOCKED BOX
Lena did not sleep that night.
She sat in the hospital waiting room while Eli slept against her shoulder.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the photograph.
Two babies.
Two bassinets.
Her mother standing beside them.
And Margaret.
Standing in the background.
Lena had spent her entire life believing she was an only child.
Now she had learned that her mother had given birth to a daughter.
A daughter who had disappeared.
And somehow, Margaret Whitmore was connected to it.
At six in the morning, Daniel found her.
He looked exhausted.
“Lena.”
She did not look up.
“Did you know?”
“No.”
“Did your mother ever tell you about Claire?”
“No.”
“Did you know my mother worked for your family?”
“No.”
“Did you know there was another baby?”
Daniel sat beside her.
“No.”
Lena finally looked at him.
“Then what do you know?”
Daniel swallowed.
“My mother has been hiding something my entire life.”
“That is not an answer.”
“I know.”
“Then find out.”
Daniel nodded.
“I will.”
Eli woke.
“Mommy?”
Lena immediately softened.
“Good morning, baby.”
“Can we go home?”
“Yes.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Hi, buddy.”
Eli stared at him.
Then looked away.
Daniel's face fell.
Lena noticed.
But she said nothing.
Before leaving, Dr. Reed approached.
“Mrs. Carter.”
Lena turned.
“We need to talk about the genetic test.”
“What did you find?”
“We need more samples.”
“From whom?”
“Margaret. Daniel. You. And Eli.”
Lena frowned.
“Why me?”
“Because your mother's identity is part of the historical records.”
“You think I am related to Daniel?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why test me?”
Dr. Reed looked at the old photograph.
“Because your mother may have been connected to the birth records in ways we haven't discovered.”
Lena took the photograph.
“Where did this come from?”
“Eleanor Price.”
“Can I see her?”
“She left.”
“Where?”
“She didn't say.”
Lena looked toward the hospital doors.
“Find her.”
Dr. Reed hesitated.
“She is eighty-seven years old.”
“I don't care.”
“I'll see what I can do.”
Lena took Eli home.
But she did not go to her apartment.
She went to her mother's old house.
The house had been empty for years.
Lena had inherited it after Claire died.
She had never wanted to live there.
Too many memories.
Too many unanswered questions.
The key still worked.
The door opened with a groan.
Dust covered everything.
Eli held Lena's hand.
“Is this Grandma Claire's house?”
“Yes.”
“Did she live here?”
“Yes.”
“Did she like cobbler?”
Lena smiled sadly.
“She loved it.”
Eli looked around.
“Then Grandma Margaret should have liked it too.”
Lena's smile disappeared.
They entered the kitchen.
Lena remembered her mother baking there.
Blackberry cobbler.
Apple pie.
Peach bread.
Claire had always said food was a way of telling people they mattered.
Lena sat at the old table.
Then she noticed something.
A loose floorboard beneath the kitchen cabinet.
She knelt.
The board moved.
Lena pulled it up.
Beneath it was a small metal box.
Her heart began to pound.
The box was locked.
And on the top were the same two letters.
E.C.
The silver key from the Whitmore patio.
Lena stared at it.
She had picked it up before leaving.
She had not known why.
Now she inserted it into the lock.
The box opened.
Inside was a photograph.
A hospital bracelet.
A letter.
And a small cassette tape.
Lena picked up the bracelet first.
The name on it was:
BABY GIRL HART.
The date was October 14, 1989.
Lena stopped breathing.
She picked up the letter.
The handwriting was her mother's.
Claire,
I know what you are planning.
If you take the baby, I will tell Nathaniel everything.
The letter was not signed.
Lena read it again.
Then again.
Whoever had written it knew her mother.
And knew about a baby.
The cassette tape had no label.
Lena found an old player in the living room.
She inserted the tape.
Static filled the room.
Then a man's voice.
“Claire, you need to listen to me.”
Lena froze.
The voice continued.
“If Margaret finds out the truth, she will destroy both families.”
Lena's hand flew to her mouth.
The voice was unfamiliar.
Then another voice spoke.
Her mother's.
“What happened to the baby?”
The man answered:
“She was taken.”
“By whom?”
Silence.
Then:
“We don't know.”
Lena stopped the tape.
Eli looked at her.
“Mommy?”
Lena stared at the machine.
The house suddenly felt too small.
Someone had taken her sister.
Someone had lied to her mother.
And someone had kept the truth hidden for thirty-six years.
Her phone rang.
Daniel.
“Lena.”
“What?”
“I found something.”
“What?”
“My mother has a locked room.”
Lena's heart began pounding.
“Where?”
“At the Whitmore estate.”
“What is inside?”
“I don't know.”
“Then open it.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because my mother is awake.”
Lena looked at the old cassette.
“What did she say?”
Daniel's voice dropped.
“She asked for you.”
Lena froze.
“Why?”
May you like
Daniel whispered:
“She said she wants to tell you who your sister really was.”
