Chapter 9 - The Woman in the Greenhouse
The greenhouse stood beyond a winding road surrounded by bare winter trees.
Its glass walls reflected the pale afternoon sun.
White roses grew inside despite the cold.
I recognized it immediately.
The photograph.
The garden.
The place my mother had apparently helped hide Julian's sister.
Detective Brooks had coordinated the visit with local authorities.
Julian and I arrived with a small security detail.
He stood beside the car, staring at the building.
"May could be inside."
I looked at him.
"Are you ready?"
He gave a faint, painful smile.
"I've been ready for eleven years."
We approached the greenhouse.
An older woman opened the door.
She had silver hair, warm brown eyes, and a cautious expression.
"Eleanor Sharma?" Brooks asked.
The woman nodded.
Then her gaze moved toward me.
Her face changed.
"Evelyn's daughter."
I froze.
"You knew my mother?"
Eleanor reached for my hand.
"She loved you more than anything."
Tears filled my eyes.
Then Eleanor looked at Julian.
Her expression softened.
"Julian."
His voice broke.
"Where's May?"
Eleanor hesitated.
"Come inside."
The greenhouse smelled of damp earth and roses.
Plants hung from wooden beams.
A small table stood beside the back wall.
On it rested a photograph of a younger May smiling beside my mother.
Julian picked it up.
His hands shook.
"She was here."
Eleanor nodded.
"For years."
"Where is she now?"
Eleanor looked toward Detective Brooks.
"Before I answer, I need assurance that she won't be forced into contact with anyone she fears."
Julian stared.
"She fears me?"
Eleanor's eyes filled.
"She feared the world you controlled."
The words hit him like a blow.
He slowly lowered the photograph.
"I never would have hurt her."
"I believe you," Eleanor answered. "But Leonard told her you were responsible for the attack that killed your father."
Julian went pale.
"He lied."
"Yes."
Eleanor wiped her eyes.
"May spent years believing that returning to you would put both of you in danger."
I stepped closer.
"Does she know the truth now?"
Eleanor nodded.
"Part of it. She recently learned Leonard manipulated the evidence."
My heart pounded.
"Then where is she?"
Eleanor turned toward the far doorway.
A woman stood there.
Dark curls.
Silver necklace.
Eyes filled with tears.
Julian stopped breathing.
"May?"
She covered her mouth.
"Jules?"
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Julian crossed the room.
His sister ran toward him.
They collided in an embrace that seemed to hold eleven years of grief.
I turned away, crying.
Julian held her so tightly that she laughed through her tears.
"I thought you were dead," he whispered.
"I know."
He touched her hair.
"I looked everywhere."
"I know."
For several minutes, they simply held each other.
Then May looked toward me.
Her face changed.
"Cora Whitaker?"
I nodded.
She approached slowly.
"Your mother saved my life."
I began crying again.
May hugged me.
"She was the bravest woman I ever met."
I closed my eyes.
For the first time, I felt as though a piece of my mother had returned.
Then May pulled back.
"There's something you both need to know."
Julian frowned.
"What?"
She looked toward the greenhouse entrance.
"Leonard didn't just fake my death."
Her voice trembled.
"He was responsible for the attack that killed Evelyn."
My knees weakened.
May gripped my hands.
"And Cora, I know who helped him."
I stared.
"Who?"
May you like
She swallowed.
"Your father."
