Chapter 1 - The Name Beneath the Wallpaper
Nora placed her daughter’s hand into the stranger’s palm.
"Take her before my husband wakes up."
The rain pounded against the metal roof.
Seven-year-old Maya refused to let go of Nora’s jacket.
"Mommy, why does this lady smell like your flower perfume?"
Nora’s hand shook violently.
She pulled Maya’s fingers away one by one.
"Because she was supposed to raise you."
Across the dark hallway, a floorboard creaked softly.
Nora turned around.
Her husband stood in the doorway.
Julian held a wet envelope in his right hand.
"She’s not taking our daughter anywhere, Nora."
The visitor pulled off her wet scarf.
Her face was identical to Nora’s.
"I’m not a stranger, Julian."
Maya looked between the two identical women.
"Which one of you is my real mommy?"
Julian did not look at his wife.
He looked at the twin sister who had officially died eight years ago.
"You were buried in Savannah, Evelyn."
Evelyn raised a silver key.
"You buried an empty box, Julian."
Nora stepped between Julian and Evelyn.
"He doesn't know about the money, Evelyn."
Julian’s eyes narrowed.
"What money?"
Maya pointed at the wall behind the dining table.
"The money under the paper with the blue flowers."
Julian walked toward the dining room.
The house was completely quiet except for the rain.
He touched the floral wallpaper beside the built-in cabinet.
The paper was loose near the baseboard.
He peeled back the faded pattern.
Beneath the paper, dark ink covered the wooden wall.
A list of names was written in fresh marker.
At the top was Julian’s name.
Beside it was a dollar amount.
Two hundred thousand dollars.
Beside his name was a word written in red.
PAID.
Julian looked back at Nora.
"Where did this money come from?"
Nora kept her back against the front door.
"It came from selling your father's business."
Julian’s breath hitched.
"My father's shop burned down twelve years ago."
"It didn't burn down," Evelyn said from the doorway.
Julian felt his knees grow weak.
"Nora, tell me she's lying."
Nora looked down at her wedding band.
She slid the gold ring off her finger.
She placed it on the small entry table.
"Your father sold the shop to save my life."
Julian stared at the small gold band.
"You told me he lost everything to gambling."
"I lied," Nora whispered.
"Why?" Julian asked.
"Because your father made me promise never to tell you."
Julian stepped closer to Nora.
"He let me hate him for twelve years."
"He wanted you to hate him," Evelyn added.
"He thought it was safer."
Maya moved toward the dining table.
She picked up a small brass box hidden near the baseboard.
"Daddy, the lady gave me this this morning."
Julian took the brass box from his daughter.
The latch was cold and stiff.
He forced it open with his thumb.
Inside was a yellowed baptism certificate.
The date was seven years ago.
The mother's name was Evelyn.
The father's name was Julian.
Julian looked at Nora.
"You told me you gave birth to her in Boston."
"I was in Boston," Nora said.
"Then who gave birth to Maya?"
Evelyn walked into the center of the room.
"I did."
Julian felt the room tilt around him.
"We were married seven years ago, Nora."
"I know," Nora said.
"You were in a coma after the car crash."
"What crash?" Julian asked.
"The crash your brother caused," Evelyn said.
Julian stared at his twin sister-in-law.
"My brother died in high school."
Evelyn shook her head slowly.
"He lived in the attic above your garage for six years."
Julian dropped the brass box.
It struck the hardwood floor with a heavy thud.
The small papers scattered across the floorboards.
Among them was an old newspaper article from seven years ago.
The headline read: LOCAL MECHANIC SURVIVES FATAL COLLISION.
The photo showed a smashed blue truck.
Julian recognized the license plate immediately.
It was his own truck.
"I wasn't driving," Julian whispered.
"No," Nora said.
"Your brother was driving."
"And who was in the passenger seat?" Julian asked.
Nora looked at Evelyn.
Evelyn raised her left sleeve.
A long, jagged scar ran from her wrist to her elbow.
"I was," Evelyn said.
"And so was the baby."
Julian backed away until his shoulders hit the wall.
"You stole my life."
"We saved your life," Nora cried out.
"From whom?" Julian shouted.
"From your mother," a voice spoke from the hallway.
Julian’s mother walked into the living room.
She carried an old leather bag.
"Give me the child, Evelyn."
"No," Evelyn said.
"The agreement is over, Clara."
May you like
Clara took a folded paper from her coat.
"The court documents say otherwise."
