Chapter 4 - THE LETTER CLAIRE FOUND
Claire found Elaine’s letter because Robert made a mistake.
He told Claire to clean out Evelyn’s old accounting office before the Queens property renovation.
Claire found a locked metal drawer.
Inside:
tax records,
old deeds,
estate correspondence,
and a sealed envelope.
FOR DANIEL WHEN HE IS OLD ENOUGH.
Evelyn’s handwriting.
Claire opened it only after finding a second document stating she was permitted to deliver the contents if Margaret had not done so.
Inside was Elaine’s last letter.
Danny,
I do not know what Margaret will tell you about me.
I was sick.
I was frightened.
I loved you.
Those three things can be true at once.
Claire stopped reading.
Then continued.
If Margaret and Robert raise you, I hope they let you love them fully without making you erase me to prove it.
Claire cried.
The final paragraph:
You do not owe me grief. You do not owe them gratitude. You owe yourself the truth when you are old enough to understand it.
Claire photographed everything.
Then called Margaret.
“Who is Elaine?”
Silence.
Claire knew before the answer came.
Margaret whispered:
“My sister.”
“Why is she writing to Daniel?”
May you like
Margaret hung up.
That was six weeks before the dining-room assault.
