Chapter 3 - Before Aaron
Aaron stared at his mother as if language had stopped working.
“You had a daughter?”
Laura nodded.
“I was sixteen.”
Rebecca was born when Laura was barely more than a child herself.
Laura's parents were deeply religious, socially prominent and terrified of scandal.
They sent pregnant Laura to stay with an aunt outside Portland.
Rebecca was born there.
Laura refused adoption.
She returned home with her daughter and endured years of whispers rather than give her away.
Rebecca grew up believing Laura was her older sister.
That was the compromise Laura's parents demanded.
When Laura turned twenty-five, she finally told Rebecca the truth.
Rebecca was nine.
“She called me Mom that night,” Laura whispered.
Aaron cried.
“Why didn't Dad ever tell me?”
“Michael knew.”
“Was he Rebecca's father?”
“No.”
Laura wouldn't name Rebecca's biological father.
Not yet.
Rebecca became fiercely protective of Laura.
Smart.
Rebellious.
Obsessed with photography.
And she loved red.
For her seventeenth birthday, Laura bought her the dress Aaron wore at graduation.
Three months later, Rebecca died.
Officially.
There had been a crash after Westbridge High's summer fundraiser.
A car left a rural road and burned.
Inside, authorities found remains believed to be Rebecca.
Her bracelet.
Her purse.
Her dress.
Daniel Calloway, then a young teacher, identified items from the scene.
Michael helped Laura survive the funeral.
Years later they married.
Then Aaron was born.
Aaron touched the dress.
“But this wasn't burned.”
“No.”
“Then how did it get into Dad's box?”
“I don't know.”
“Dad said it was buried.”
Laura shook her head.
“I watched them close the coffin with it inside.”
Brent interrupted.
“My dad told me something different.”
Everyone turned.
Six months earlier, Brent had overheard Daniel arguing with Michael.
Michael shouted:
“You identified the wrong girl.”
Daniel answered:
“I identified exactly who you told me to.”
Laura went still.
“Michael?”
Brent nodded.
“Your husband.”
Aaron's grief became anger.
“My dad helped fake Rebecca's death?”
“I don't know.”
Brent looked at Laura.
“My dad knows.”
They turned toward the parking lot.
Daniel's car was gone.
Aaron immediately called him.
Voicemail.
Then Laura's phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
Daniel's abandoned car beside a highway.
Driver's door open.
Keys inside.
Beneath it:
HE KEPT HIS PART OF THE PROMISE FOR EIGHTEEN YEARS.
NOW KEEP YOURS.
Aaron whispered:
“Who sent that?”
A second message arrived.
ASK LAURA WHO REBECCA'S FATHER WAS.
Aaron looked at his mother.
Laura's face drained.
“No.”
“Mom.”
“No.”
“Tell me.”
Laura stared at Brent.
May you like
Then whispered:
“Daniel Calloway.”
