Chapter 10 - What Jason Really Did
“Why?”
Rebecca’s voice shook.
“Not on the phone.”
“Then tell me where you are.”
Silence.
“Hannah, I don’t know who to trust.”
“Neither do I.”
That seemed to convince her.
She gave me a motel outside Frederick.
Robert insisted on police nearby.
I agreed.
Not because I was afraid.
Because I had finally learned everyone around Dad had been operating with backup plans.
Rebecca opened the motel door wearing jeans and a gray sweater.
She looked familiar.
Not because I had seen the photograph.
Because she had my eyes.
Same shape.
Same slight downward tilt at the corners.
My stomach turned.
She saw me notice.
“Yeah.”
I could barely speak.
“Who are you?”
Her mouth trembled.
“My mother’s name was Sarah Lane.”
“That doesn’t answer me.”
“Your father helped her.”
“My father?”
“Thomas.”
I stepped inside.
“What did Jason pay you for?”
“To stop calling.”
“Calling who?”
“Thomas.”
My chest tightened.
Rebecca sat on the edge of the bed.
“I contacted him last spring.”
“Why?”
“Because my mother died.”
“I’m sorry.”
“She left me letters.”
“What kind?”
“About Thomas.”
I could hear my heartbeat.
“Was he your father?”
Rebecca looked at me.
“No.”
Relief came.
Too soon.
“He was supposed to be.”
I frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“My mother dated Thomas before Linda.”
My skin went cold.
“She got pregnant.”
I stared.
Rebecca continued.
“Thomas thought the baby was his.”
“Was it?”
“She never told him otherwise.”
“Who was the father?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then why contact Dad?”
“Because my mother said Linda knew.”
Of course she did.
Rebecca reached into a bag.
Pulled out letters.
Old.
Folded.
One from Mom.
Sarah,
Thomas cannot find out.
My fingers went numb.
“What?”
Rebecca watched me.
“Keep reading.”
The letter continued.
If he knows the baby is not his, everything changes.
I looked up.
“Not his?”
Rebecca nodded.
“Thomas believed my mother had his child.”
“But she didn’t.”
“No.”
“Then why hide you?”
“Because Linda used the secret to control him.”
My stomach dropped.
“How?”
“Thomas thought he had abandoned a daughter.”
I closed my eyes.
Mom had spent years telling Dad what kind of man he was.
Maybe this had been one weapon.
Rebecca continued.
“Last year my mother told me the truth before she died. I contacted Thomas to clear it up.”
“What happened?”
“He cried.”
That hurt.
“He asked me to come meet him.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Seven months ago.”
Around the time he transferred the house to me.
“What did he say?”
“That Linda had used me as leverage for twenty-eight years.”
I stared.
“And Jason?”
“Jason contacted me two weeks later.”
“How did he know?”
“Chloe.”
Of course.
“He offered me money to sign a statement saying Thomas was confused and obsessed with me.”
My fists tightened.
“Did you?”
“No.”
“So he paid you to disappear.”
“Eventually.”
“Why take it?”
Rebecca looked ashamed.
“My mother left debts. I was scared.”
I understood more than I wanted to.
“Why come back?”
“Thomas sent me something before he died.”
She handed me a sealed envelope.
My name.
Dad’s handwriting.
I opened it.
Hannah,
Rebecca is not the daughter Linda lied about.
My skin went cold.
I read the next line.
You are.
I stopped breathing.
Rebecca watched me.
“I’m sorry.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
Dad’s letter continued.
Linda has hidden the truth of your birth since the day you came home from the hospital.
My knees weakened.
Robert stepped closer.
“What truth?”
I looked at Rebecca.
She whispered:
“Thomas wasn’t your biological father.”
May you like
The room vanished.
CUT.
