Chapter 3 - THE EMPTY GRAVE
Brenda did not scream.
That frightened Gary more.
She simply stared at Preston as though the brother standing in front of her had become a stranger while she watched.
Audrey remained seated.
Rocco stood beside her.
Nobody touched Brenda.
Preston finally spoke.
“The baby was alive when she was taken from the hospital.”
Brenda’s hands began shaking.
“Taken where?”
Preston hesitated.
Rocco’s voice hardened.
“Answer her.”
“A family outside Boston.”
Brenda laughed.
One broken sound.
“A family?”
Preston corrected himself.
“Daniel’s older sister.”
Brenda stared.
“Rachel?”
“Yes.”
Brenda knew Rachel Vale.
Everyone did.
Rachel had moved away shortly before the birth.
Marian told Brenda the woman left because Daniel had embarrassed his family.
The truth was the opposite.
Rachel left so she could take the baby.
Brenda’s knees weakened.
Gary moved toward her.
She shoved his hand away.
“No.”
Gary stopped.
She looked toward Preston.
“Why?”
Preston’s face looked gray.
“Mom said you weren’t stable.”
“I had just given birth.”
“She said you would run.”
“I was going to run.”
Silence.
Brenda’s eyes filled.
“With my daughter.”
Preston nodded.
That was exactly what Marian feared.
Brenda planned to leave the Reed house with Daniel and their baby.
Marian believed once Brenda left, every daughter in the extended family would decide rules were optional.
So she created another story.
The baby became ill shortly after birth.
Brenda was kept away.
Then Marian told her the child had died.
No body.
No funeral where Brenda saw the coffin opened.
Only a small family ceremony.
Brenda had been sedated for much of the first week.
She believed every word because she was eighteen and broken.
Audrey looked at Preston.
“What did you do?”
He did not answer.
Gary did.
“He drove the baby away.”
Brenda turned slowly.
Preston stared at his younger brother.
“You were sixteen.”
“I followed you.”
Preston’s expression changed.
Gary continued.
He saw Preston leave the Reed property before dawn.
Something about the car bothered him.
He followed on an old motorcycle.
He watched Preston meet Rachel Vale at a roadside diner.
Then Preston handed over a carrier.
Brenda’s daughter was inside.
“I didn’t understand everything,” Gary said.
“But I knew she was alive.”
Brenda looked at him.
“And you said nothing.”
Gary’s eyes filled.
“I was scared.”
“Seventeen years.”
“I know.”
Brenda looked from one brother to the other.
Then Audrey asked the question Brenda could not.
“Where is she now?”
Preston answered.
“Still with Rachel.”
Brenda turned.
“You know?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Preston said nothing.
Rocco stepped closer.
“How do you know?”
Preston’s silence became its own confession.
Gary looked at his brother.
Then his expression changed too.
“You’ve seen her.”
Brenda froze.
Preston finally nodded.
“How many times?”
No answer.
Brenda stepped closer.
“How many times?”
Preston whispered:
“Every year.”
Brenda recoiled as if struck.
Audrey stared at her husband.
Preston continued because there was no point stopping now.
He visited around the girl’s birthday.
Sometimes from a distance.
Sometimes Rachel allowed him inside.
Brenda’s daughter knew him.
Not as Uncle Preston.
As an old family friend.
Brenda whispered:
“What does she think happened to me?”
Preston looked down.
That hesitation was worse than everything before it.
Brenda understood.
“You lied to her too.”
Preston closed his eyes.
“What did you tell my daughter?”
May you like
His answer barely carried across the ballroom.
“That you chose to leave her.”
