Chapter 4 - THE LETTER FROM A DEAD MAN
My mother stopped breathing for a second.
I actually saw it happen.
Her shoulders froze.
Her lips parted.
But no sound came out.
Finally she whispered:
“David is alive?”
Julian answered carefully.
“I don’t know.”
“That makes no sense.”
“The letter was mailed eight months ago, but the message inside could have been written earlier.”
I grabbed the phone.
“What did it say?”
“I’ll show you.”
“Read it.”
“I’d rather—”
“Read it.”
Another pause.
Then Julian did.
“Aaron. If this reaches you, they found the last account. Sarah must never pay for what I did. Find her before Martin does.”
Mom looked at me.
I looked back.
There was only one Martin who mattered.
Martin Keller.
My mother’s older brother.
My uncle.
The man who had helped Mom raise me after Dad disappeared.
The man who came over every Christmas.
The man who had paid part of my college tuition.
The man I called when my first car broke down.
“No,” Mom said immediately. “David trusted Martin.”
Julian’s response was quiet.
“David trusted a lot of people before he disappeared.”
My mind raced through childhood memories.
Uncle Martin bringing groceries.
Uncle Martin fixing the kitchen sink.
Uncle Martin telling me not to waste time trying to find my father because “some men just run.”
Suddenly that sentence felt different.
“Why would Dad mention him?” I asked.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to determine.”
Mom looked furious.
“By dating me?”
Pain crossed Julian’s voice.
“No. And I know how terrible that looks.”
“You came looking for me because of David.”
“Yes.”
“And you lied.”
“Yes.”
“Then don’t tell me what it looks like.”
The doorbell rang.
All three of us went silent.
Mom stared toward the hallway.
I moved carefully toward the front window and lifted the curtain half an inch.
My stomach tightened.
Uncle Martin stood on the porch.
He was smiling.
In one hand, he carried a bottle of wine.
In the other was a small cardboard box.
Mom whispered:
“What is he doing here?”
Then Martin called through the door:
“Sarah? I know Claire’s with you.”
May you like
He paused.
“And I think it’s time we finally talk about David.”
