Chapter 6
For a moment, I couldn't hear anything.
The ticking clock.
The birds outside.
Tasha calling my name.
Everything faded beneath Raymond's final sentence.
My mother may still be alive.
I stared at the photograph.
The woman beside my grandmother had my eyes.
My cheekbones.
Even the same crooked smile I always tried to hide in pictures.
"That's impossible," I whispered.
Raymond folded his hands.
"Nia, your mother was named Angela Carter."
"I know her name."
"But you don't know what happened to her."
I looked at him sharply.
"Grandma told me she died in a car accident."
"She didn't."
My chest tightened.
"Then where was she?"
Raymond hesitated.
"Angela struggled with addiction when she was younger. There were periods when she wasn't safe or able to care for you."
I swallowed hard.
"Grandma took me in?"
"Yes."
"Why tell me she was dead?"
"Your grandmother was frightened that Angela's instability would hurt you. When you were little, she made a decision she believed would protect you."
I felt anger rise through my grief.
"She let me grow up believing my mother was buried somewhere."
Raymond nodded sadly.
"Yes."
"Did my mother ever come looking for me?"
"Many times."
I covered my mouth.
"Did Grandma turn her away?"
"At first, yes. Later, they began communicating again."
My eyes filled.
"Did Angela get better?"
Raymond smiled faintly.
"She did. She's been in recovery for more than twenty years."
I stared at him.
Twenty years.
My mother had been alive.
Healthy.
Somewhere in the world.
While I had spent birthdays wishing I could hear her voice.
"Why didn't she find me?"
Raymond looked down.
"She believed you knew the truth and didn't want contact."
My heart dropped.
"Who told her that?"
He hesitated.
"Marcus."
The name struck me like a slap.
"What?"
"After Evelyn passed away, Angela reached out several times. I helped facilitate early contact, but later Marcus contacted her directly."
I gripped the arms of my chair.
"He told my mother I didn't want her?"
Raymond nodded.
"He said you were struggling emotionally and didn't want any contact."
I shook my head.
"No."
"I'm sorry."
I stood so quickly that Tasha reached for me.
For years, Marcus had made decisions about my life without my knowledge.
My career.
My money.
My friendships.
And now I discovered he had kept my own mother away from me.
"Where is she?" I demanded.
Raymond reached for a small notebook.
"Last I heard, she was living in Charlotte."
"Do you have her number?"
"Yes."
I started crying.
"Then call her."
Raymond looked at me carefully.
"Nia, this is a lot to process."
"I have waited thirty-eight years to meet my mother. Please."
He nodded.
Then dialed.
The call rang four times.
A woman answered.
"Hello?"
Raymond's voice softened.
"Angela? It's Raymond Foster."
There was a pause.
"Raymond? Is everything okay?"
"Yes. I'm here with someone."
"Who?"
He looked at me.
"Your daughter."
Silence.
Then I heard a small gasp.
"Nia?"
My entire body shook.
I stepped closer.
"Mom?"
A sob came through the phone.
"Oh, my baby."
I started crying so hard I could barely breathe.
"You're alive."
"Yes, sweetheart. I'm alive."
"Why didn't you come?"
"I tried."
Her voice cracked.
"I tried so many times."
I closed my eyes.
"I didn't know."
"I thought you hated me."
"No!"
The word escaped before I could stop it.
"I thought you were dead!"
She began sobbing.
"Oh, Nia. I'm so sorry."
We cried together.
Thirty-eight years of separation collapsed into a single phone call.
Eventually, I whispered, "Can I see you?"
"Of course."
"Today?"
"Yes, baby. Whenever you want."
Two hours later, I was standing outside a small community center in Charlotte.
Angela worked there as a counselor for women recovering from addiction.
She was waiting by the entrance.
Her hair was silver at the temples.
Her hands trembled.
When she saw me, she lifted them to her mouth.
"Nia?"
I didn't walk.
I ran.
She caught me in her arms.
And I held her like a little girl who had finally found the person she'd been searching for all her life.
For a long time, neither of us spoke.
She smelled like lavender soap.
Her shoulders shook against mine.
Then she whispered, "I never stopped loving you."
I pulled back.
"Promise?"
She cupped my face.
"Every single day of my life."
We sat together for hours.
She told me about her recovery.
The years of rebuilding her life.
The letters she had written.
The birthday cards she'd mailed.
The photographs Marcus had promised to give me.
I had never seen any of them.
"Why would he do that?" I whispered.
Angela looked at me sadly.
"Because I started asking questions about your inheritance."
I froze.
"What questions?"
"Your grandmother told me she created a trust to protect you. When I learned Marcus was handling your finances, I became worried."
"Did you confront him?"
"Yes."
"What happened?"
"He told me I had no right to interfere."
She opened her purse.
Then removed a small envelope.
"I kept this because I was afraid you might need it someday."
Inside was a copy of a letter.
Marcus had written it five years earlier.
Angela,
Any attempt to contact Nia or interfere in our financial affairs will be considered harassment. Nia has made her wishes clear.
Do not contact her again.
I read it twice.
Then handed it to Tasha.
Her expression hardened.
"This is evidence of a pattern."
Angela looked frightened.
"Is he in trouble?"
Tasha answered carefully.
"He may be facing serious consequences."
My phone rang.
David Collins.
I answered.
"Nia, we have an update."
"What happened?"
"The lender has agreed to temporarily suspend enforcement activity while we investigate the disputed documents."
Relief washed through me.
"Thank God."
"But there's more."
His voice grew serious.
"We located Marcus's accountant. He's offered to cooperate."
I sat up.
"Why?"
"Because federal investigators contacted him this morning."
I stopped breathing.
"Federal investigators?"
"Yes. It appears Marcus's financial problems extend far beyond your property."
I stared at the letter in my hands.
David continued.
"Nia, we've been told there's evidence of wire fraud involving multiple investors."
I whispered, "How much?"
"Potentially several million dollars."
My stomach dropped.
"And one of those investors has just filed a formal complaint."
"Who?"
David hesitated.
May you like
Then said something I never expected.
"Selena Brooks."
