Chapter 1 - The Taped Envelope
My mother stared at the envelope on the kitchen table.
She did not reach out to touch it.
I watched her eyes trace the thin line of clear tape holding the flap shut.
She knew exactly what was inside because she was the one who had resealed it.
I asked her if she remembered the orange paint on my daughter's cheek.
Her jaw tightened in response.
She told me I was being dramatic over an old piece of mail.
I reminded her that she returned it without a single written word.
She finally looked up and said she never wanted to send it back.
She claimed my father forced her to do it.
She said he was furious about the marriage and strictly controlled all the outgoing mail.
I almost felt a sudden flicker of sympathy for her.
Then the front door unlocked and Marcus walked into the kitchen.
He set his briefcase down and looked at my mother with absolute coldness.
He asked her why she was lying about a dead man.
My mother froze in her chair.
I turned to Marcus and asked what he meant by that.
Marcus pulled a death certificate from his briefcase and placed it squarely on the table.
May you like
He gently told me that my father had passed away three months ago.
My mother had hidden his death from me just so she could use him as an excuse today.
