The Heart She Recognized

Chapter 2 - The Daughter Who Never Called

Mia's foster guardian arrived moments later.

Her name was Rebecca Shaw.

She was surprised when Evelyn explained who she was.

"Laura never told me she had family."

Evelyn's face tightened.

"She had family."

Rebecca said nothing.

Evelyn understood what her tone implied.

Maybe Laura had chosen not to claim them.

That possibility hurt.

Still, Evelyn followed them to the hospital.

Laura was thinner than Evelyn remembered.

Her hair was shorter.

There were shadows beneath her eyes.

But she was unmistakably her daughter.

Evelyn stopped in the doorway.

"Laura."

Laura opened her eyes.

For several seconds, she simply stared.

Then tears filled them.

"Mom?"

Mia looked between them.

"You know Grandma?"

Laura immediately turned toward her daughter.

"Who told you—"

"The necklace did."

Mia lifted the joined heart.

Laura began crying.

Evelyn moved closer.

"Seven years."

Laura's expression hardened.

"You shouldn't be here."

Evelyn stopped.

"Why?"

"You made that clear."

"What did I make clear?"

Laura stared at her.

"That you didn't want me."

Evelyn looked genuinely confused.

"I searched for you."

Laura laughed weakly.

"No, you didn't."

"I hired investigators."

"You sent me money to disappear."

Evelyn went still.

"What?"

Laura reached toward the bedside drawer.

Inside was an old envelope.

She handed it over.

Evelyn opened it.

There was a check for fifty thousand dollars.

And a letter.

Take this. Start somewhere else. Do not contact me again.

At the bottom:

Evelyn Harper.

Evelyn stared at the signature.

"This isn't mine."

Laura turned away.

"I knew you'd say that."

"I never wrote this."

"You told me the same thing before I left."

"What thing?"

"That Daniel was beneath me. That I would destroy the family if I married him."

Evelyn remembered the argument.

She had hated Daniel Bennett.

But she had never told Laura to disappear.

"I was angry," Evelyn said. "I said things I regret. But I never sent this."

Laura's eyes filled.

"Then who did?"

Evelyn looked at the envelope again.

There was one person who had known about the argument.

One person who handled all of Evelyn's personal correspondence at the time.

Her younger son.

Laura's brother.

Michael.