Chapter 7 - The Birthday Gift That Changed Everything|
I read the threatening messages three times.
Each time, the words seemed more frightening.
My father was being watched.
Someone knew Elena had left another letter.
And somehow, that person knew Lily possessed something important.
Gabriel noticed my expression.
"Natalie?"
I quickly turned the phone facedown.
"Nothing, sir."
He studied me.
"You're pale."
"I'm just tired."
The lie tasted bitter.
But the photograph of my father remained burned into my mind.
If I told Gabriel, would the person watching my father make good on the threat?
If I stayed silent, could I accidentally help the people who had already hurt Lily?
I didn't know what to do.
And for the first time that night, I understood why fear could make good people hesitate.
Gabriel gently moved Lily onto the sofa.
He covered her with the blanket.
Then he approached me.
"Natalie."
I looked up.
"What's wrong?"
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
His expression sharpened.
"Did someone contact you?"
My eyes widened.
He held out his hand.
"May I see your phone?"
I hesitated.
Then I remembered Lily standing in the dining room, trembling because Raymond had threatened me.
I remembered how much courage it had taken her to speak.
If an eleven-year-old could tell the truth while terrified, I had to try.
I handed Gabriel the phone.
He read the messages.
His expression turned dark.
"Daniel."
The security chief appeared almost immediately.
Gabriel handed him the phone.
"Trace the sender through lawful channels and contact the police."
Daniel read the messages.
His jaw tightened.
"I'll notify the investigator assigned to the case."
Gabriel looked at me.
"When did these arrive?"
"Just now."
"Did you respond?"
I shook my head.
"Good."
He turned toward Daniel.
"Have someone check on Thomas Brooks immediately."
Daniel nodded.
"Understood."
I felt my knees weaken.
Gabriel caught the back of a chair and pulled it toward me.
"Sit down."
I obeyed.
"I'm sorry."
He frowned.
"For what?"
"I almost didn't tell you."
His expression softened.
"Natalie, whoever sent those messages wanted you frightened and isolated."
I wiped my eyes.
"They know where my father goes for therapy."
"I know."
His voice was steady.
"And we're going to handle that."
I looked toward Lily.
"Could the second letter really exist?"
Gabriel followed my gaze.
"I don't know."
He sat opposite me.
"But Elena was careful."
I waited.
"Especially during the last months of her life."
He glanced toward the fireplace.
"She started making copies of documents."
"Because of Raymond?"
"That's what I'm beginning to believe."
I thought about the threatening message.
"Ask Lily what her mother gave her on her last birthday."
Gabriel frowned.
"Lily's last birthday before Elena died?"
"Probably."
He closed his eyes, thinking.
"She turned eight shortly before the accident."
I nodded.
"Do you remember the present?"
He shook his head.
"Elena bought several things."
His face tightened.
"I was away on business that week."
I looked down.
Once again, I could hear regret in his voice.
Then he said, "Wait."
I looked up.
"There was a necklace."
"A necklace?"
"A small silver locket."
My heart began racing.
"Does Lily still have it?"
"I think so."
He looked toward his daughter.
"Elena told her it was a special gift."
I stared at the little girl sleeping on the sofa.
Her school photographs.
Her music box.
Her treasured blue blanket.
All those ordinary things that kept her mother close.
Could another secret be hidden among them?
Gabriel leaned forward.
"But I won't wake her for it."
I immediately nodded.
"Neither will I."
He looked relieved.
"We'll ask her in the morning."
I glanced toward the window.
Dawn was beginning to pale the sky.
It was almost five o'clock.
The worst night of our lives had somehow lasted until morning.
A few minutes later, Daniel returned.
"Miss Brooks, your father is safe."
I stood so quickly the chair scraped against the floor.
"What?"
Daniel nodded.
"An officer contacted the rehabilitation center's overnight supervisor, and a security detail is checking the area."
My eyes filled.
"Thank you."
He continued.
"Your father is being escorted home by a trusted driver after his scheduled appointment."
I let out a shaky breath.
Gabriel watched me.
"Would you like to call him?"
I nodded.
Daniel handed back my phone.
My father answered on the second ring.
"Nat?"
The sound of his voice nearly broke me.
"Dad."
"Sweetheart, what's wrong?"
I covered my mouth.
He heard the tears immediately.
"Natalie?"
"I'm okay."
"That didn't sound okay."
I laughed weakly.
"Long night."
He was quiet for a moment.
Then he asked, "Did something happen at work?"
I looked at Gabriel.
He nodded encouragingly.
So I told my father enough to explain why he needed to accept the security arrangements.
I didn't mention every frightening detail.
But I told him someone had threatened him.
He listened.
Then he said something that made me cry harder.
"Baby girl, you don't owe anybody your safety for a paycheck."
I closed my eyes.
"Dad."
"I know why you took that job."
His voice softened.
"And I'm grateful."
I swallowed.
"But if it's hurting you, you walk away."
I looked at Lily.
Then at Gabriel.
"I don't think I can walk away yet."
My father was quiet.
Finally, he said, "Then make sure you're staying because you choose to."
I nodded.
"I will."
"And Natalie?"
"Yes?"
"I'm proud of you."
I began crying.
For months, I had measured my worth in hospital bills paid and hours worked.
Sometimes I forgot that my father had loved me long before I earned a paycheck.
We ended the call a few minutes later.
Gabriel quietly offered me a tissue.
I accepted it.
"He's a good man," Gabriel said.
I smiled through my tears.
"The best."
Gabriel nodded.
"Perhaps I should learn something from him."
Before I could reply, Lily stirred.
She opened her eyes.
Then she looked at the window.
"Is it morning?"
Gabriel smiled.
"Almost."
She sat up.
"Did you stay?"
He moved beside her.
"All night."
Lily looked delighted and surprised.
Then she suddenly frowned.
"Does that mean I'm in trouble for missing school?"
I laughed.
Gabriel smiled.
"No school today, sweetheart."
Her eyes widened.
"Really?"
"Really."
She looked toward me.
"Natalie, did you hear that?"
I nodded.
"Best news ever."
For the first time since dinner, Lily giggled.
The sound felt like sunlight.
Gabriel watched her with an expression of complete wonder.
Then he said, "Lily, can I ask you something about Mommy?"
Her smile faded slightly.
"Okay."
"Do you remember the silver locket she gave you for your eighth birthday?"
Lily immediately touched her chest.
Her fingers closed around a thin chain hidden beneath her dress.
My heart jumped.
She was wearing it.
Gabriel noticed.
"Is that it?"
Lily nodded.
"Mommy told me never to lose it."
He gently held out his hand.
"May I see?"
She hesitated.
Then she carefully lifted the necklace from beneath her collar.
The locket was shaped like a small heart.
Its silver surface was scratched from years of wear.
Gabriel smiled sadly.
"I remember this."
Lily looked down.
"Mommy said it was a secret between us."
My pulse quickened.
"What secret, sweetheart?" I asked.
Lily opened the locket.
Inside was a tiny photograph.
Elena holding Lily as a baby.
On the opposite side was a folded scrap of paper.
I stared.
Gabriel leaned closer.
Lily carefully removed it.
"Mommy said I could read it when I was older."
Gabriel went still.
"Did she say how much older?"
Lily shook her head.
"She said when I was ready."
I exchanged a glance with Gabriel.
He looked at Lily.
"Would you like to keep it private?"
She thought for a moment.
Then she shook her head.
"I want you to read it with me."
Gabriel nodded.
"Of course."
Lily unfolded the paper.
There were only two sentences.
Written in Elena's beautiful handwriting.
"My darling Lily, if you ever feel that the people around you are hiding the truth, remember that love does not demand silence."
Underneath was a second line.
"The rest of my message is waiting where we watched the stars."
Lily frowned.
"Where we watched the stars?"
Gabriel looked confused.
Then Lily's face suddenly brightened.
"I know!"
She jumped from the sofa.
"Mommy and I used to watch the stars from the old greenhouse."
Gabriel frowned.
"The greenhouse?"
Lily nodded excitedly.
"She told me the stars were little lights for people who missed someone."
I looked at Gabriel.
His expression was changing.
"The greenhouse has been closed for years."
Lily shook her head.
"Not all of it."
She smiled.
"Mommy showed me a secret place."
Gabriel stood.
"What secret place?"
Lily looked from him to me.
Then she whispered, "There's a little room behind the rose wall."
My heart began pounding.
A hidden room.
A second message.
A woman who had known she was in danger.
Gabriel glanced toward the window.
The first golden light of morning was touching the gardens.
He looked at Daniel, who had just entered.
"Secure the greenhouse."
Daniel nodded.
But before he could leave, his radio crackled.
A guard's voice came through.
"Sir, we have a problem."
Daniel pressed the receiver.
"What kind of problem?"
The voice sounded tense.
"Someone entered the greenhouse overnight."
Gabriel's expression hardened.
Daniel asked, "What did they take?"
There was a pause.
Then the guard answered.
"We don't know yet."
May you like
Another pause.
"But the greenhouse is on fire."
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