Chapter 4
The moment Marcus mentioned Lake Mercer, Evelyn grabbed the arms of her wheelchair.
Her face changed so quickly that I thought she might faint.
"Where did you hear that name?"
Marcus held up the letter.
"Daniel wrote it."
Evelyn's breathing became uneven.
"That man has no right—"
"Stop."
Marcus's voice was quiet.
But something in it made everyone listen.
"Stop blaming him."
Evelyn stared at her son.
He stepped closer.
"I have spent thirty-eight years believing my father didn't want me."
His voice cracked.
"And now you're telling me he loved me?"
Evelyn began crying.
Marcus continued.
"Then I want to know what happened at Lake Mercer."
Nia looked between them.
She seemed just as confused as I was.
I moved beside Evelyn.
"Are you feeling okay?"
She nodded weakly.
But her fingers were trembling.
I brought her a glass of water.
She took a small sip.
Then closed her eyes.
"Lake Mercer was where everything fell apart."
Marcus sat across from her.
"Tell me."
Evelyn took a shaky breath.
"Your grandfather owned a cabin there."
I remembered the place.
Marcus had taken me to Lake Mercer once, shortly after we got engaged.
The cabin was abandoned.
Its windows were boarded.
Marcus said nobody had used it since he was a child.
Evelyn continued.
"In August 1995, Daniel came back to Atlanta."
Nia leaned forward.
"My father told me he returned to find his son."
Evelyn nodded.
"He contacted me through a mutual friend."
Marcus swallowed.
"What did he want?"
"To meet you."
My heart tightened.
Marcus was seven in 1995.
The same age as our daughter Maya.
I pictured him as a little boy.
Bald head.
Big brown eyes.
Always asking questions.
Evelyn continued.
"Daniel said he'd spent years trying to locate us."
She looked at Marcus.
"He wanted to explain why he'd been gone."
Marcus stared at her.
"Did you let him?"
She lowered her eyes.
"Yes."
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Marcus whispered, "I met him?"
Evelyn nodded.
"Once."
My stomach dropped.
"You never told him?"
She shook her head.
Marcus stared at her.
"Where?"
"At the cabin."
He pressed his hands against his knees.
"I don't remember."
Evelyn began crying again.
"You were so happy that day."
Her voice softened.
"You ran straight toward him."
Nia wiped her cheeks.
Marcus looked as though he couldn't breathe.
"He held you for nearly an hour."
Evelyn swallowed.
"You kept asking whether he was coming home with us."
I placed my hand over my mouth.
Marcus stared at the table.
"Did he say yes?"
Evelyn nodded.
"He promised he would."
My heart broke.
Marcus suddenly stood.
"Then WHY DIDN'T HE?"
Evelyn flinched.
I touched his arm.
"Marcus."
He stepped backward.
"No, Claire."
He looked at his mother.
"If he promised me, why wasn't he there the next day?"
Evelyn's face crumpled.
"Because your grandfather found out."
The backyard became silent.
She continued.
"Walter arrived at the cabin with two men."
Marcus stared.
"What men?"
"Security guards."
I felt cold.
Evelyn looked toward Nia.
"Daniel tried to explain that he only wanted to see his son."
Nia's eyes filled.
"What did Walter do?"
Evelyn swallowed.
"He accused Daniel of trying to extort the family."
Marcus shook his head.
"That's ridiculous."
"I know."
Evelyn continued.
"They argued."
Her voice grew weaker.
"Then Walter ordered the guards to remove him."
I leaned forward.
"Did they hurt him?"
She closed her eyes.
"Yes."
Nia began crying.
"My father has scars on his ribs."
Evelyn covered her mouth.
"I didn't know."
Nia stared at her.
"He told me men beat him at a lake house."
Marcus looked sick.
Evelyn began sobbing.
"I begged them to stop."
I could barely breathe.
"Where was Marcus?"
"In the bedroom."
She looked at her son.
"You heard the shouting."
Marcus closed his eyes.
His face changed.
I watched him struggle with something.
A memory.
Or the beginning of one.
He whispered, "The blue truck."
Evelyn stopped crying.
"What?"
Marcus opened his eyes.
"There was a blue truck outside."
Evelyn stared.
"Yes."
He swallowed.
"I remember a man with blood on his shirt."
Nia covered her mouth.
Marcus looked at her.
"Was it Daniel?"
She nodded through tears.
"My father used to drive a blue pickup."
Marcus leaned against the table.
For a moment, I thought his knees would buckle.
I moved beside him.
He whispered, "I remember crying."
Evelyn nodded.
"You did."
"Someone told me Daddy was bad."
Her face crumpled.
"Your grandfather."
Marcus covered his face.
I wrapped my arms around him.
For years, he'd carried a memory he couldn't understand.
A frightened little boy.
A wounded father.
Adults lying to him.
Now those pieces were returning.
Evelyn spoke again.
"After that day, Walter threatened Daniel with prison."
Nia shook her head.
"For what?"
"He claimed Daniel had trespassed and attacked his guards."
Marcus stared.
"But the guards attacked him."
Evelyn nodded.
"Yes."
I felt furious.
"Did anyone report what really happened?"
She lowered her head.
"No."
Marcus stepped away.
"Why not?"
Evelyn's voice broke.
"Because Walter threatened to take you from me."
That stopped him.
She looked up.
"He said I was unstable. He said he could use his money and connections to prove I was an unfit mother."
I felt sick.
Evelyn continued.
"I believed him."
Marcus stared at her.
"So you stayed silent."
She nodded.
"I thought I was protecting you."
He shook his head.
"You were protecting a lie."
Evelyn began crying harder.
"I know."
For a long moment, nobody spoke.
Then Nia reached for her phone.
"My father told me something else about that day."
We turned toward her.
She looked frightened.
"He said Walter wasn't alone at the cabin."
I frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Nia swallowed.
"There was another person."
Evelyn's expression changed.
"Who?"
Nia looked at Marcus.
"Anthony Johnson."
My stomach tightened.
Marcus stared at her.
"The man I thought was my father?"
She nodded.
"He was there."
Evelyn covered her mouth.
Nia continued.
"My father said Anthony watched the whole thing."
Marcus looked toward Evelyn.
"Mom?"
She couldn't speak.
"Did Anthony know Daniel was my father?"
Evelyn began shaking.
Then she whispered, "Yes."
I stared at her.
Marcus's voice became dangerously quiet.
"Then why did you marry him?"
Evelyn closed her eyes.
"Because my father forced me to choose."
Marcus stood motionless.
"Choose what?"
Evelyn looked at him through tears.
"Anthony..."
May you like
She swallowed.
"Or losing you forever."
