Chapter 8 - CLAIRE'S LETTER
The missing envelope was found in Evelyn’s car.
Inside:
a letter from Claire.
Written six weeks before the crash.
RYAN—
I know Mom thinks you’re taking me away from her. I don’t know how to explain that choosing my husband and daughter is not abandonment.
Ryan stopped reading.
His hands shook.
Claire continued:
She keeps pushing me to set up documents giving her control if anything happens to me. I said no. I want her in Lily’s life, but not making decisions over us.
Then:
If something happens to me, please do not let guilt turn her into Lily’s parent.
Ryan sat down.
The room disappeared.
Claire had seen it.
Before the crash.
Then another page.
I love my mother. I also know she turns fear into authority. I spent my whole childhood trying not to upset her.
Ryan stared at Evelyn.
“You knew about this letter.”
Evelyn said nothing.
“When?”
“After Claire died.”
“Why hide it?”
“She was angry when she wrote it.”
“Was it false?”
Silence.
Then Evelyn snapped:
“You think one letter overrides thirty years of being her mother?”
Ryan looked at Lily.
“No.”
May you like
Then:
“But it explains why you’re trying so hard to become hers.”
