Chapter 4 - THE HOUSEKEEPER IN THE FAMILY PHOTOGRAPH
“No.”
Natalie backed away from Teresa's bed.
“No, that's impossible.”
Luca remained frozen with the photograph in his hand.
The baby in the yellow blanket could be anyone.
But the woman holding her was unmistakably the mother Natalie had buried seven years earlier.
“Mrs. Moretti,” Natalie said, “my father was Thomas Brooks. I have his name on my birth certificate.”
Teresa nodded.
“I know, sweetheart.”
“Then why are you telling me that man is my father?”
“Because Thomas wasn't your biological father.”
Natalie shook her head harder.
“You don't know that.”
“I knew your mother, Claire, before you were born.”
“Then why have I never heard your name?”
Teresa's eyes filled.
“Because she was trying to protect you.”
Luca set the photograph on the nightstand.
“Grandma, this isn't something you can say without explaining.”
“I know.”
“Then start at the beginning.”
Teresa pressed her palms together.
“Your father was thirty-two when he met Claire Bennett. She worked at a charity clinic the family helped fund.”
Natalie stared at her.
“Bennett was my mother's maiden name.”
“Yes.”
Teresa continued.
“Carlo was separated from Elena at the time.”
Luca stiffened.
“My parents were never separated.”
“They were. For nearly a year. They kept it private because of the business and because you were young.”
He remembered being nine years old and spending a winter at his grandparents' house while his father traveled.
His mother had told him Carlo was working overseas.
Luca had never questioned her explanation.
“Carlo and Claire became close,” Teresa said. “When Claire discovered she was pregnant, your father wanted to help.”
Natalie's voice trembled.
“Help how?”
“He offered financial support. He wanted to acknowledge you. But Claire had met Thomas by then, and Thomas loved her.”
“What about my mother?” Luca asked.
“Elena knew.”
Luca stared.
“She knew about the baby?”
“Yes. Your parents reconciled before Natalie was born. It was painful for everyone, but Elena never blamed the child.”
Natalie sank into the nearest chair.
“My parents loved each other,” she whispered.
“They did,” Teresa answered. “Thomas raised you as his own. That was never a lie about love.”
Natalie's eyes filled with tears.
“My father taught me to ride a bicycle. He stayed up all night when I had pneumonia. He sold his truck to pay for Daniel's first wheelchair.”
Teresa reached for her.
“He was your father in every way that matters.”
Natalie pulled her hand away.
“Then why is any of this happening now?”
Teresa's face tightened.
“Because Carlo made a decision before he died.”
“What decision?” Luca asked.
“To correct something he'd regretted for years.”
She looked toward Natalie.
“He wanted you to know where you came from.”
Luca rubbed his forehead.
“And Raymond opposed it?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Teresa looked at the rosary in her lap.
“Because Raymond had used money meant for Natalie.”
Natalie stared.
“What money?”
“Your father set aside a trust when you were born. It was supposed to provide for your education and medical needs.”
“I never received anything.”
“I know.”
Teresa's voice broke.
“When Thomas died, your mother wrote to Carlo asking for help with Daniel's treatment. Raymond intercepted the letter.”
Natalie stood so abruptly that her chair scraped the floor.
“My father died when Daniel was six.”
“I remember.”
“My mother worked double shifts for years. We lost our house.”
Teresa closed her eyes.
“I know.”
Natalie's face changed.
“You knew?”
“I learned later. Carlo learned too.”
“How much money?”
Teresa hesitated.
“Two million dollars originally.”
Natalie pressed a hand to her mouth.
Two million dollars.
Her mother had spent years counting grocery coupons and selling furniture to keep Daniel's care uninterrupted.
And somewhere, someone had stolen money that could have changed their lives.
“Where did it go?” Luca asked.
“Raymond invested it through a company controlled by his associates. Carlo discovered irregularities before his illness became serious.”
“Why didn't Dad tell me?”
“He was gathering proof. He thought Raymond might have taken money from other family accounts too.”
Natalie walked toward the window.
She couldn't look at either of them.
Luca followed, keeping a respectful distance.
“Natalie.”
“Please don't.”
He stopped.
“I hired you six months ago because your references were excellent,” he said.
“I know.”
“I didn't know any of this.”
She turned.
“Did your grandmother?”
Teresa looked stricken.
“I knew Claire's daughter was named Natalie. I didn't know Natalie Brooks was that little girl until I saw the photograph of your brother on your desk.”
Natalie's breathing became shallow.
“When?”
“Two months ago.”
“Two months?”
“I wanted to be sure before telling you. I asked Margaret to help me confirm it.”
Natalie looked away.
“You had two months to tell me.”
Teresa lowered her head.
“I'm sorry.”
The apology was genuine.
But Natalie wasn't ready to accept it.
“I need some air.”
She left the room.
Luca waited until the door closed.
“Grandma, why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Carlo asked me to be certain before involving either of you.”
“He's been dead eighteen months.”
“I was afraid of Raymond.”
Luca looked toward the photograph.
“And Vanessa?”
“Raymond promised her something.”
“What?”
Teresa hesitated.
“I heard them talking about a wedding settlement.”
Luca's expression hardened.
The agreement between him and Vanessa would give her an interest in certain Moretti family investments after their marriage.
Raymond had insisted on drawing up the financial structure.
At the time, Luca had considered it ordinary estate planning.
Now he wondered what interests Vanessa was supposed to acquire.
Marcus appeared in the doorway.
“Luca, Margaret Bellini isn't in Providence.”
“Where is she?”
“We're still checking. But the storage facility confirmed Raymond accessed the unit yesterday.”
“Using whose authorization?”
“His own.”
Luca frowned.
“The receipt listed Margaret.”
“Her authorization was revoked nine months ago.”
Luca understood.
Someone had kept using outdated paperwork as a distraction.
“What was stored there?”
“Personal records, photographs, and several original account ledgers.”
“Are they still there?”
“No.”
Luca's jaw tightened.
“Where did they go?”
Marcus held out his phone.
“The facility has footage of the pickup. Raymond wasn't alone.”
Luca watched the video.
A black SUV stood beside the loading entrance.
Raymond carried a wooden document box.
Beside him, Vanessa held a smaller metal case.
The date stamp showed yesterday afternoon.
But the final image was what made Luca's stomach twist.
Vanessa turned toward the camera.
Around her wrist was Teresa's diamond bracelet.
The supposedly missing bracelet.
The day before the cellar incident.
Luca looked at Marcus.
“Grandma wore that bracelet tonight.”
“Yes.”
“Then Vanessa must have taken it yesterday and returned it before the party.”
“Exactly.”
Luca stared at the screen.
The bracelet wasn't merely stolen jewelry.
Someone had needed to open it.
And whatever had been hidden inside was valuable enough to retrieve before anyone knew Natalie existed.
Marcus enlarged another frame.
Vanessa was carrying a small blue photograph between her fingers.
On its back, written in black ink, was a name.
DANIEL BROOKS.
Luca felt the room tilt.
Teresa looked up at the sound of his sharp breath.
“What is it?”
He showed her the image.
His grandmother covered her mouth.
“Oh, Carlo,” she whispered.
Luca turned to her.
“Grandma, why is Daniel's name on the photograph?”
May you like
Teresa began crying.
“Because Natalie wasn't the only child your father was trying to protect.”
