Evelyn's Last Secret
Chapter 15 - Evelyn's Last Secret
Evelyn asked Claire to come alone.
The Mercer house smelled like lemon polish and old books.
On the dining table sat Thomas's missing journals.
Claire froze.
"Where did you get those?"
Evelyn sat down.
"Victor never took them."
Claire stared.
"What?"
"I hid them."
Anger rose immediately.
"Why?"
"Because I was ashamed."
Claire remained standing.
Evelyn looked toward the portrait of Thomas on the wall.
"For thirty-two years, I believed my husband loved another woman."
"Anne?"
"I knew it wasn't romantic. Not exactly. But there was a part of his life he would not share with me."
"Because he promised her."
"I know that now."
Evelyn touched the journals.
"Back then, I hated the silence."
Claire almost laughed at the irony.
Evelyn did not.
"When Daniel showed me the photograph, I panicked. I thought everything I had buried would return."
"So you lied."
"Yes."
"Then when the journals became important?"
"I hid them because they proved Thomas had trusted me less than he trusted Anne."
Claire looked at her.
"That wasn't what they proved."
"I know."
Evelyn's eyes filled.
"They proved he was trying to keep a promise to a dead friend. They proved I made his goodness about my pride."
Claire sat down.
Evelyn pushed the journals toward her.
Inside was the final piece.
Thomas had documented every attempt he made to restore Claire's trust.
He had written about Samuel.
About Anne.
About Victor.
And about Evelyn.
One entry stopped Claire.
Evelyn thinks I am choosing Anne over my family. I do not know how to explain that helping a frightened mother protect a child is not choosing against anyone.
Claire closed the book.
Evelyn whispered, "I am sorry."
Claire looked at her.
"Tell Daniel."
"I will."
"No. Tell him everything."
Evelyn nodded.
Claire stood to leave.
"Claire?"
She turned.
Evelyn looked smaller than she had at the wedding.
"Do you think he will forgive me?"
Claire thought of Daniel.
Of Anne.
Of herself.
"I think forgiveness is possible."
Evelyn breathed out.
Claire added, "But you don't get to decide when."
For the first time, Evelyn smiled.
"That sounds fair."
Claire left with the journals.
On the final page, Thomas had written a sentence that would change the case.
May you like
Victor believes the original deed was destroyed.
He is wrong.
