Chapter 12 - The Letter Catherine Left Behind
The envelope was pale blue.
Elena kept it inside a small leather pouch she'd carried for four years.
Its edges were worn.
The name on the front had been written in neat, careful handwriting.
To My Beautiful Boy, Noah.
Luca stared at it for a long time.
Then he sat beside Teresa.
I stood near the door, unsure whether I belonged in such an intimate moment.
But Teresa reached for my hand.
“Stay, Hannah.”
Luca opened the envelope carefully.
Inside were two handwritten pages.
He began reading silently.
Then his eyes filled.
He looked at us.
“It's a letter for when Noah is older.”
Teresa nodded.
“Would you read it?”
Luca hesitated.
Then began.
My precious Noah,
If you're reading this, I hope I'm sitting beside you, embarrassing you with too many kisses and reminding you to wear a coat even when you insist you're grown.
Luca smiled through his tears.
But if I'm not there, I want you to know that being your mother was the happiest thing that ever happened to me.
Teresa began crying quietly.
Luca continued.
You made every ordinary day extraordinary. You made me laugh when I was tired. You made me brave when I was frightened.
He paused.
I looked away.
Your daddy loves you more than he knows how to say. Sometimes he gets quiet when he's worried. Sometimes he works too hard. But he has the biggest heart I've ever known.
Luca covered his mouth.
For several seconds, he couldn't speak.
Then he continued.
If there comes a day when you miss me, don't be afraid to talk about me. Don't let anyone convince you that loving someone new means forgetting someone you lost.
My own eyes filled.
Love isn't a room that gets smaller when more people enter. It becomes bigger.
Luca stopped.
He looked toward his mother.
Then toward me.
And something in his expression changed.
He read the final paragraph.
Be kind to people who cannot give you anything in return. Stand beside those who are afraid to stand alone. And remember that the strongest people are not the ones who frighten everyone else.
They're the ones who make other people feel safe.
I love you forever, Mommy.
When Luca finished, the room was silent.
Teresa reached for him.
He moved into her arms.
For the first time since the engagement dinner, he allowed himself to cry openly.
I stood near the doorway, tears slipping down my cheeks.
Eventually, Luca looked toward Elena.
“Thank you for keeping this.”
She nodded.
“Catherine asked me to.”
He studied the letter.
“Why didn't you contact us sooner?”
Elena lowered her eyes.
“I was afraid Richard would find me. After the accident, someone threatened the people helping me. I changed my name and moved between facilities.”
“Who paid for your treatment?”
“Catherine had set up an account through an attorney. After her death, the attorney continued the payments.”
I frowned.
“The storage unit?”
Elena nodded.
“I kept copies of the records there. The payments came from the account Catherine created.”
Luca looked toward Marco.
“So whoever entered that unit was trying to destroy the remaining evidence.”
Marco nodded.
“Most likely.”
Elena hesitated.
“But there is something Richard doesn't know.”
Luca leaned forward.
“What?”
“Catherine gave the attorney a second copy of everything. It's been held in escrow for four years.”
Luca went still.
“Where?”
“With a lawyer named Margaret Whitcomb in Milwaukee.”
Marco took out his phone.
Within minutes, he was arranging contact.
The following morning, Luca traveled to meet the attorney with Detective Ramirez and two federal investigators.
I stayed at the mansion.
Noah spent most of the day beside Teresa.
He helped her arrange flowers.
He listened as she told stories about Catherine.
And for the first time, he asked questions without looking frightened.
“Was Mommy funny?” he asked.
Teresa smiled.
“Very.”
“Did she like dinosaurs?”
“She liked you, and you liked dinosaurs. So yes, sweetheart.”
He giggled.
Then he looked toward me.
“Hannah?”
“Yes?”
“Did you know my mommy?”
I crouched beside him.
“No, honey. But I wish I had.”
He thought about that.
Then held out his stuffed dinosaur.
“You can hold Rex if you're sad.”
I smiled.
“Thank you.”
That evening, Luca returned carrying a thick folder.
His expression was exhausted.
But different.
Determined.
He gathered us in the library.
“The attorney confirmed Catherine's evidence,” he said.
Teresa gripped my hand.
“And?”
Luca looked toward Elena.
“Federal investigators are preparing charges.”
“What about Richard?” I asked.
Luca's jaw tightened.
“They're moving to arrest him.”
Relief washed over me.
But then Marco's phone rang.
His expression changed.
He stepped away.
A moment later, he returned.
“Boss.”
Luca looked up.
Marco swallowed.
“Richard Bellini's gone.”
The room fell silent.
“He emptied his private accounts this morning.”
“Where is he?” Luca demanded.
Marco hesitated.
“His last known location was near the Canadian border.”
Luca stared.
May you like
Then Marco added:
“And he left a message for you.”
