Chapter 5 - THE BOY WHO WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO RETURN
“Yesterday?”
Eleanor examined the bracelet again.
Thomas nodded.
“The date is yesterday.”
For a moment, the distant wedding music sounded strangely out of place.
Eleanor had believed Ben Ellis was a childhood survivor whose treatment had ended years earlier.
The bracelet suggested something had changed.
“Did Anna say why she was here?”
Thomas shook his head.
“She asked to speak to Daniel. Mr. Hayes intercepted her.”
“Did she look frightened?”
“Yes.”
Eleanor handed him back the photograph of his mother.
“Thomas, would you ask Daniel to join us?”
“Of course.”
“Quietly, please.”
When Daniel arrived, he found his grandmother holding the blue bracelet.
“What's happened?”
Eleanor showed him the name.
“Anna Ellis came here tonight.”
Daniel frowned.
“Victoria's childhood friend?”
“Yes. Richard sent her away.”
“Why?”
“I intend to find out.”
Daniel looked at the bracelet.
“Is Ben sick again?”
“I don't know.”
He rubbed his forehead.
“This is becoming worse every minute.”
Eleanor studied his face.
“Do you regret defending me?”
“Not for a second.”
“Even if it costs you your wedding?”
Daniel answered without hesitation.
“If standing up for you costs me my marriage, Grandma, then I need to understand what kind of marriage I was about to enter.”
Eleanor reached for his hand.
“Your grandfather would have been proud of that answer.”
Daniel looked toward the lounge.
“Victoria's not the same person when her father isn't around.”
“I noticed.”
“She loved that boy once.”
Eleanor nodded.
“I think she still does.”
Daniel was quiet.
“Then why does she seem so afraid of helping him?”
“Because fear can become a habit.”
Eleanor remembered Samuel's words.
A person who has spent years obeying cruelty may mistake obedience for safety.
Daniel looked down at the bracelet.
“I'm going to find Anna.”
“How?”
“I can ask the hospital.”
“Not about a patient's private records.”
“I know.”
He paused.
“But I can ask our foundation's patient-support team how someone in need can contact us.”
Eleanor nodded approvingly.
“And perhaps Victoria knows Anna's address.”
Daniel returned to the lounge.
Victoria was sitting alone, staring at the blue ribbon he had placed beside the crushed flowers.
He closed the door.
“Anna came here tonight.”
Victoria looked up.
“What?”
“Your father turned her away.”
She stood.
“Are you sure?”
Daniel showed her the bracelet.
Victoria covered her mouth.
“Oh, Ben.”
“You knew?”
“No.”
Her hands trembled.
“I thought he was healthy.”
“Do you have Anna's number?”
Victoria shook her head.
“She changed it years ago.”
“An address?”
“Not a current one.”
She sat down heavily.
“Daniel, if Ben is sick again…”
He sat beside her.
“Then we find a way to help.”
Victoria looked at him.
“My father won't allow it.”
Daniel's expression changed.
“Victoria, you're thirty-two years old.”
“I know.”
“You don't need his permission.”
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain it.”
She reached beneath the neckline of her gown.
For the first time, Daniel noticed a thin gold chain.
From it hung a small silver key.
“My mother gave me this when I turned twenty-one.”
Daniel frowned.
“What does it open?”
“A deposit box.”
“What's inside?”
“I don't know.”
“Why not?”
“Because my father took the second key and told me never to open it without him.”
Daniel stared at her.
“Why would you obey that?”
Victoria looked down.
“Because my mother was dying when she gave it to me. Dad said the box contained things that would upset me.”
“Did your mother tell you that?”
“No.”
“Then what did she tell you?”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“She said, ‘If you ever become afraid of your own father, remember that truth is not disloyalty.’”
Daniel sat back.
“Victoria.”
“I thought she was confused from her medication.”
“Maybe she wasn't.”
Victoria clutched the key.
“Daniel, I'm scared.”
He took her hand.
“Then we'll be scared together.”
Outside, the reception continued.
Guests were eating dessert.
A jazz quartet played near the terrace.
Richard Hayes moved from table to table with his familiar confidence.
At nine-thirty, Eleanor approached him.
“Richard, we need to discuss Anna Ellis.”
He smiled.
“Still chasing ghosts?”
“She came here tonight.”
His smile vanished.
“Who told you that?”
“Does it matter?”
“She has been harassing my family for years.”
“By asking about her mother?”
“By demanding money.”
Eleanor studied him.
“Did you give her any?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because blackmail should never be rewarded.”
Eleanor remained quiet.
Then she asked, “What did Margaret know?”
Richard looked toward the orchestra.
“Excuse me?”
“Margaret Ellis didn't steal your money. She gave you money. What did she discover that made you so determined to silence her?”
Richard's face darkened.
“You should be very careful.”
Eleanor smiled sadly.
“I've been careful for seventy-eight years. It hasn't always served me well.”
Richard leaned closer.
“Your husband wasn't the saint you remember.”
Eleanor froze.
“Explain yourself.”
Richard lowered his voice.
“Samuel knew about the transfer.”
“What transfer?”
“The money. The hospital project. All of it.”
Eleanor stared at him.
Richard gave a humorless smile.
“You think he investigated because he suspected me?”
“Didn't he?”
“No.”
“He investigated because he was frightened the truth would come out.”
Eleanor felt the room tilt.
Samuel had died believing she knew everything important about his life.
Or so she had thought.
Richard continued.
“Your husband made a decision nineteen years ago. I helped him keep it private.”
Eleanor gripped the back of a chair.
“What decision?”
Richard looked toward Daniel.
Then toward Victoria.
“Ask your grandson why his grandfather created a private children's medical fund without telling the board.”
Eleanor frowned.
“Samuel funded dozens of children's programs.”
“Not like this one.”
Richard reached into his jacket.
He removed a small photograph.
It showed Samuel standing beside Margaret Ellis.
Between them was Ben's mother, Anna, as a young woman.
But another figure stood at the edge of the photograph.
A teenage boy.
His face was partially hidden behind Samuel's shoulder.
Richard tapped it.
“Do you recognize him?”
Eleanor leaned closer.
Her heart gave a painful jolt.
Because she did.
The boy was Daniel's father, James Whitmore.
And the date on the photograph was two years after James had supposedly severed every connection with the Hayes family.
Richard whispered, “Your husband didn't create that fund for charity, Eleanor.”
May you like
He placed the photograph in her hand.
“He created it because James owed Margaret Ellis something money could never repay.”
