Chapter 10 - Margaret Comes to the House
Margaret Vale arrived the following morning.
She was seventy-one, elegant, controlled, and furious that Adrian had called her without explanation.
Vivian had inherited her mother’s talent for appearing calm while everyone else became uncomfortable.
Margaret entered the library.
“What has my daughter done now?”
Adrian noticed the wording.
Not what are you accusing her of.
What has she done.
Grace noticed too.
Adrian placed the pharmacy receipt on the table.
Margaret’s face changed.
“Where did you get that?”
“You recognize it.”
Margaret sat down.
“It was my medication.”
“Vivian picked it up.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I had injured my back.”
“Did you receive the medication?”
Margaret looked away.
“Some of it.”
Adrian’s voice lowered.
“How much was missing?”
Margaret closed her eyes.
“Four tablets.”
Grace inhaled slowly.
Adrian asked, “Did you confront Vivian?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“She said the pharmacy must have made an error.”
“You believed her?”
Margaret looked at Adrian.
“No.”
The answer surprised him.
“Then why did you say nothing?”
Margaret’s composure cracked.
“Because Elena was already dead.”
The room went silent.
Adrian stared at her.
Margaret continued.
“I found the bottle after the funeral.”
“How long after?”
“Three days.”
“And you suspected Vivian?”
“I did not want to.”
“That is not an answer.”
Margaret’s eyes filled.
“Yes.”
Grace sat very still.
Adrian felt anger rise.
“You suspected your daughter might have taken medication that was later found in Elena’s system, and you said nothing for four years?”
Margaret wiped a tear.
“I had already lost one child.”
“You protected the other.”
“I was terrified.”
“And what about Leo?”
Margaret looked toward the floor.
“I convinced myself it was coincidence.”
Adrian laughed once.
Coldly.
“Then Vivian pushed my son into a pool.”
Margaret covered her mouth.
Adrian slid a photograph from the footage across the desk.
Margaret stared at it.
“She said Grace did it.”
“Vivian lies.”
Margaret’s shoulders shook.
“I know.”
Grace looked at her.
“How long have you known?”
Margaret slowly raised her eyes.
“Longer than I want to admit.”
She told them about Vivian’s jealousy.
Even as children, Vivian could not tolerate Elena receiving attention.
If Elena won an award, Vivian became sick.
If Elena had a birthday party, Vivian created an emergency.
If Elena dated someone, Vivian found a way to become involved.
When Adrian and Elena married, the pattern intensified.
Vivian began appearing at their house without warning.
She inserted herself into financial discussions.
She copied Elena’s clothing.
She even suggested Adrian should hire her at his company.
Elena laughed about it at first.
Later she stopped laughing.
Margaret reached into her handbag.
“I brought something.”
She removed a sealed envelope.
Adrian recognized Elena’s handwriting immediately.
His name was written across the front.
Adrian stopped breathing.
“Where did you get that?”
Margaret whispered, “Vivian gave it to me after Elena died.”
Grace stared at her.
Margaret continued.
“She said Elena wrote it while medicated and that it would only hurt you.”
“You kept it?”
“Yes.”
“For four years?”
“I was ashamed.”
Adrian’s hands shook as he opened it.
The first line destroyed what remained of his certainty.
Adrian, if you are reading this, something has happened before I found the courage to tell you.
He looked at Grace.
Then continued.
Elena described Vivian’s behavior.
The trust questions.
The stolen medication.
The threats.
And one sentence Adrian read three times.
Vivian told me that if I disappeared, she could take care of you and Leo better than I ever could.
Adrian lowered the letter.
Margaret began sobbing.
Grace said nothing.
May you like
Because at last, they were no longer searching for the beginning.
Elena had left it for them.
