Chapter 8 - THE SIGNATURE THAT COULD HAVE TAKEN EVERYTHING
“You copied my signature?”
Vanessa nodded.
I felt the last fragile pieces of our relationship fall apart.
“How many times?”
She pressed her hands against her mouth.
“I don't know.”
“Vanessa.”
“Three. Maybe four.”
I stared at her.
Three or four times.
She said it as though she had misplaced receipts.
But those signatures had helped separate me from my daughter.
They had helped hide Caroline.
They might have endangered money my father had intended for Lily.
“Why?”
Vanessa swallowed.
“Edward told me the documents were necessary to protect you.”
“You knew your father was alive?”
She shook her head.
“Not at first. He contacted me through an intermediary after Caroline disappeared. He said he was trying to make things right.”
I thought about everything she'd told me.
The dead father.
The difficult childhood.
The way Diane had encouraged us to begin dating.
Pieces of the story were beginning to fit together.
Not comfortably.
But unmistakably.
“Did Edward tell you to marry me?”
“No.”
“Did Diane?”
Vanessa looked toward my mother.
“She encouraged it.”
Diane said nothing.
Vanessa continued.
“I'd met you twice at foundation events. You were kind to me. When Diane suggested we have dinner, I wanted to believe it could become something real.”
“Even after you learned about the money?”
Her voice broke.
“I thought we could repay it before you discovered anything.”
I shook my head.
“You didn't trust me enough to tell me the truth.”
“I was afraid you'd hate me.”
“Did you ever consider what Lily might feel?”
Vanessa looked toward the adjoining room.
Tears ran down her face.
“Yes,” she whispered. “And that's what I can't forgive myself for.”
I didn't answer.
Rose approached the table.
“Mr. Whitaker, Caroline left one more instruction.”
I turned.
“What was it?”
“She asked me not to reveal her current location until she'd spoken with an independent advocate.”
“Why?”
“Because she wanted to know she could make decisions without pressure from either side of the family.”
That hurt.
But I understood.
For almost two years, Caroline had been surrounded by people making decisions in her name.
I didn't want to become another one.
“Can you contact the advocate?”
“Yes.”
“Then please tell Caroline I won't demand anything. I just want to know she's safe.”
Rose nodded.
“And Lily?”
I looked toward the door.
“She deserves to see her mother. But I won't force Caroline into another arrangement she doesn't understand.”
For the first time that afternoon, Rose seemed relieved.
“That's what she hoped you'd say.”
Daniel had been quietly sorting the archive.
Now he looked up.
“There's another problem.”
I sighed.
“What?”
“The financial records show a pending transaction scheduled for Monday.”
It was Saturday.
“What transaction?”
“A controlling interest in one of the downtown properties is supposed to move into a holding company.”
“Vanessa's holding company?”
Daniel nodded.
“Partly.”
I looked at Diane.
“Were you planning to complete this after the wedding?”
My mother lowered her eyes.
“Yes.”
“And if I'd signed the marriage agreement?”
“The transfer would have been easier to justify.”
I couldn't believe how casually she'd built a financial strategy around my marriage.
My future.
My daughter.
My wife's disappearance.
Everything had become something to manage.
“Cancel it,” I told Daniel.
“I've already begun.”
He hesitated.
“But there may be penalties.”
“How much?”
“Potentially several million.”
I took a slow breath.
“Then we'll deal with them.”
Diane looked up.
“You'll put hundreds of jobs at risk.”
“No. The people who created this mess put those jobs at risk.”
She flinched.
I hadn't raised my voice.
I didn't need to.
Daniel stepped outside to call the company's attorneys and trustees.
I went to Lily.
She had finished her drawing.
It showed a small house with three windows.
In front stood three people.
This time, the fourth figure was gone.
“Who's this?” I asked, pointing to the people.
“Me, you, and Mommy.”
I swallowed.
“And the house?”
“Ours.”
I sat beside her.
“Lily, I need to ask you something.”
She nodded.
“Did anyone ever tell you that Mommy was sick?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“Grandma.”
“What did she say?”
“That Mommy needed to rest because she was having bad thoughts.”
I felt tears sting my eyes.
“Did Mommy tell you that?”
Lily shook her head.
“Mommy said she was trying to get better at being brave.”
I put my arm around her.
“Your mommy has always been brave.”
Lily looked thoughtful.
“Then why was she scared of the red coat?”
I froze.
“The red coat?”
She nodded.
“The lady wore it when Mommy cried.”
I remembered the drawing.
Diane had a red coat.
Vanessa had denied owning one.
But Lily's description had been strangely specific.
“Did you see the lady's face?”
Lily shook her head.
“Only her shoes.”
“What shoes?”
“Black ones. With shiny stars.”
I stared at her.
My mother often wore black shoes with small silver buckles.
But those weren't stars.
They were decorative clasps.
I returned to the conference room.
“Mother, what coat did you wear to the lake?”
Diane looked confused.
“My gray one.”
“Did you own a red coat?”
“Yes. Years ago.”
“Do you still have it?”
“No. I donated it.”
“When?”
She hesitated.
“Last winter.”
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
“That's not true.”
Diane turned.
“What?”
“I saw the coat in your closet two weeks ago.”
The room went silent.
I looked at Vanessa.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Why does that matter?”
Vanessa stared at Diane.
“Because there was something in the pocket.”
My mother shook her head.
“Don't.”
Vanessa continued.
“A little girl's hair ribbon. Pink satin.”
Lily's favorite ribbon.
Caroline used to tie it around her ponytail before school.
I remembered searching for that ribbon after Caroline disappeared.
We had found Lily's hairbrush.
Her shoes.
Her favorite books.
But never the ribbon.
I turned to Diane.
“Where is the coat?”
My mother closed her eyes.
“At home.”
“Then we're going to get it.”
May you like
She looked at me with something close to terror.
“Graham, if you find what's inside that coat, you'll understand why Caroline refused to come home.”
