Chapter 4 - The First Name Evelyn Tried to Avoid
Daniel called his mother that afternoon.
“Come over.”
Evelyn arrived twenty minutes later.
She was calm until Daniel placed the forwarded envelope on the kitchen table.
Then she stopped taking off her coat.
“Why was Maya’s adoption correspondence going to Grandma’s house?”
Evelyn looked at me.
“I wouldn’t know.”
Daniel tapped the envelope.
“Try again.”
“My mother handled Julian’s affairs.”
“His affairs?”
Evelyn sighed.
“You know what I mean.”
“No. Actually, I don’t.”
He pulled out a chair.
“Sit.”
Evelyn sat.
I stayed across from her.
“Did you know Julian got someone pregnant?” Daniel asked.
Evelyn hesitated.
“There had been talk.”
“What kind of talk?”
“Daniel—”
“What kind?”
She looked toward me.
“A girl.”
The word hit me harder than I expected.
That girl.
Ruth used to call me that.
Never Maya unless she had to.
“There was a girl,” Evelyn continued. “Julian had gotten himself into trouble.”
I felt my face heat.
“Your brother died. I was eight months pregnant. But somehow I was the trouble?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
Daniel interrupted.
“Did you know there was a baby?”
“Yes.”
The kitchen went quiet.
He stared at his mother.
“You knew Uncle Julian had a child?”
“I knew a child was expected.”
“What happened after the birth?”
“Mom said everything had been handled.”
I almost laughed.
“Handled.”
Evelyn looked uncomfortable.
Daniel leaned forward.
“What does that mean?”
“An adoption.”
“Did you know Maya’s name?”
“No.”
The answer came too fast.
I noticed.
So did Daniel.
He asked again.
“Did Grandma ever tell you the birth mother’s name?”
Evelyn’s eyes shifted toward the window.
“I don’t remember.”
That was not the same as no.
Daniel stood.
“I’m calling Aunt Caroline.”
Evelyn looked up sharply.
Caroline was Ruth’s niece and the executor who had handled Ruth’s estate after her death.
“There’s no reason to drag Caroline into this.”
Daniel already had his phone out.
“Then you shouldn’t care.”
“Daniel.”
He stopped.
Evelyn’s voice had changed.
Not angry.
Worried.
“Some family history doesn’t become healthier just because you dig it back up.”
Daniel stared at her.
May you like
Then he pressed CALL.
The fear on Evelyn’s face told me Caroline might know exactly where to start digging.
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