Chapter 5: The Secret About My Mother
I didn't sleep after Claire left.
Not even for a minute.
Her words kept repeating in my head.
Ask Nia what really happened the night her mother died.
But I already knew what happened.
Didn't I?
My mother had gotten sick.
She had been driving home from work.
There was an accident.
That was the story.
The story my father told me.
The story everyone told me.
So why did Claire say it like there was something I didn't know?
The next morning, I found Dad sitting at the kitchen table.
He hadn't moved much.
A cup of coffee sat untouched in front of him.
"Dad?""
He looked up.
His eyes were tired.
"Morning.""
I sat across from him.
"What did Claire mean?""
He immediately knew what I was asking.
His face changed.
"Nia...""
"No.""
My voice shook.
"But you have to tell me.""
He looked away.
I hated that.
Because silence always meant there was something hidden.
"Did something happen to Mom that I don't know?""
Dad closed his eyes.
For a long time, he said nothing.
Then he whispered:
"Yes.""
The word felt like the floor disappeared.
I gripped the edge of the chair.
"What?""
Dad took a deep breath.
"Your mother’s accident wasn't just an accident.""
I couldn't move.
"What does that mean?""
He looked at me.
"There were things about that night I never told you.""
"Why?""
"Because you were eight.""
"I’m thirteen now.""
"I know.""
His voice cracked.
"And I wish I had told you sooner.""
I waited.
He reached into a drawer and pulled out an old envelope.
The paper was worn.
The edges were yellow.
"I kept this because I didn't know what to do with it.""
He placed it on the table.
Inside was a photograph.
A picture of my mother standing beside her car.
She was smiling.
She looked happy.
I touched the picture.
"What happened?""
Dad swallowed.
"Your mother had discovered something at work.""
"At work?""
"She was an accountant for a company owned by a man named Thomas Reed.""
I frowned.
I didn't know that name.
"She found financial mistakes.""
"Like Claire?""
Dad nodded slowly.
"Similar.""
My heart started beating faster.
"Mom knew about people stealing money?""
"Yes.""
"And then she died?""
Dad looked down.
"The police said the roads were wet. They said she lost control.""
"But?""
"But your mother had called me twenty minutes before the accident.""
"What did she say?""
Dad’s eyes filled.
"She said she was scared.""
I felt a chill.
"What was she scared of?""
"She didn't tell me.""
"Why not?""
"Because she said she needed proof first.""
I stared at the photograph.
My mother wasn't just someone who loved soccer.
She was brave.
She was someone who stood up when something was wrong.
"Did you know this whole time?""
Dad shook his head.
"Not everything.""
"What did you know?""
He hesitated.
"I knew she suspected someone.""
"Who?""
Dad looked at me.
"Rachel.""
The room went silent.
Again.
My aunt.
The same person who had helped Claire destroy our family.
I stood up.
"No.""
Dad looked surprised.
"Nia—"
"No.""
I backed away.
"Everyone keeps telling me things about people I love.""
My voice broke.
"And every time, it gets worse.""
Dad stood.
"I know.""
"I don't know who to trust.""
His expression broke.
"Me.""
I looked at him.
"Do I?""
He looked like my question hurt him.
Good.
Maybe he needed to understand.
"I love you, Dad.""
Tears filled my eyes.
"But I needed you to tell me the truth.""
"I know.""
"No, you don't.""
I wiped my face.
"You protected me from the truth, but the truth still found me.""
That afternoon, Dad took me to see someone.
A woman named Elena.
She had worked with my mother.
She lived in a small house filled with plants and books.
When she opened the door and saw me, she covered her mouth.
"Nia?""
I nodded.
She immediately hugged me.
"You look so much like your mother.""
I had heard that before.
But this time it felt different.
Like meeting a piece of someone I lost.
Inside, Elena made tea.
Then she sat across from me.
"Your father told me what happened.""
I looked at her.
"What happened to my mom?""
Elena became quiet.
"Your mother was investigating missing money.""
"From Thomas Reed's company?""
She nodded.
"She believed someone close to her was involved.""
"Who?""
Elena looked at Dad.
Then me.
"She never wanted to accuse anyone without proof.""
"But she had a suspicion.""
Elena nodded.
"Yes.""
"Who?""
She took a deep breath.
"Your aunt Rachel.""
My heart sank.
Again.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?""
"Because your mother asked us not to.""
I froze.
"What?""
Elena reached into a cabinet.
She pulled out a small box.
"She left this with me.""
My hands shook.
"For me?""
Elena nodded.
"She told me if anything happened to her, I should give it to you when you were old enough.""
Dad looked shocked.
"She never told me about this.""
Elena opened the box.
Inside was a small necklace.
A letter.
And a flash drive.
My fingers touched the letter.
On the front, my mother's handwriting appeared.
For Nia.
My eyes filled immediately.
I opened it.
The first line destroyed me.
"My sweet girl, if you are reading this, something happened that I hoped never would.""
I looked at Dad.
He was crying silently.
I continued reading.
"I need you to know one thing before anything else.""
The next sentence made my heart stop.
"You were never the reason I stayed.""
I frowned.
What did that mean?
Then I read the final line on the page.
And suddenly, I understood.
May you like
My mother had known someone would try to take me away from my father.
And she had left evidence proving exactly who.
