Chapter 19 - Rebecca's Birthday Message.
Rebecca appeared on-screen sitting in the lake house kitchen.
Sunlight covered the table.
She looked directly into the camera.
"Hi, girls."
Daniel stopped the video.
His hands shook.
Cole sat beside him.
Daniel pressed play again.
"If your father is showing you this on your first birthday, congratulations."
Rebecca smiled.
"He followed instructions."
Daniel laughed through tears.
"He hates instructions."
Cole covered his mouth.
Rebecca spoke to each twin separately.
She described Maisie as a tiny detective.
She called Rosie a professional comedian.
Then she looked at the camera differently.
"Danny."
Daniel's smile disappeared.
"If I am not there, please do not turn my absence into the biggest thing in their childhood."
He closed his eyes.
Rebecca continued.
"Let them know me."
"But let them know other people too."
"Let them love without making them prove they will never leave."
Daniel looked toward Elise's last message.
Rebecca smiled softly.
"And please, for the love of everything holy, let someone move the furniture."
Daniel laughed again.
The next morning was the twins' birthday.
The lake house filled slowly.
Cole brought balloons.
Samuel brought books.
The housekeeper brought a cake too large for the table.
Daniel kept looking toward the driveway.
Elise had not promised to come.
At noon, Evelyn arrived.
Everyone became quiet.
Daniel walked outside before she reached the porch.
"You should not be here."
"I know."
She held two wrapped boxes.
"I brought gifts."
"That does not fix anything."
"I know that too."
Daniel studied her.
She looked exhausted.
"The investigators interviewed me again this morning."
Daniel said nothing.
"I am stepping away from the company."
"Good."
Her face tightened.
"You could pretend that was difficult to hear."
"I have spent my whole life making your feelings easier."
Evelyn looked down.
Then she held out the gifts.
"May I leave these?"
Daniel took them.
"You may."
She turned away.
A car pulled into the driveway.
Elise stepped out.
She wore a simple blue dress and carried the black headphones around her neck.
Yellow gloves stuck from her handbag.
Daniel's chest tightened.
Evelyn noticed her.
For a moment, both women looked at each other.
Then Evelyn walked to her car.
No confrontation.
No last insult.
Daniel watched her leave.
Elise approached.
"I thought there would be security."
"There is cake."
"More dangerous."
Inside, the twins saw her.
Maisie squealed.
Rosie bounced.
Elise knelt.
Daniel did not feel replaced.
That surprised him.
He felt grateful.
Later, after the candles, Elise stood near the porch.
"I turned down Boston."
Daniel looked at her.
"Because of us?"
"No."
His stomach dropped.
Then she smiled.
"Because I want to start a child-care training program here."
Daniel blinked.
"Here?"
"In the county."
She lifted the yellow gloves.
"Apparently I have a method."
Daniel laughed.
"Do you need an investor?"
"No."
"Good."
She looked surprised.
Daniel continued.
"But if you ever need someone who is excellent with teddy bears, I have experience."
Elise smiled.
Then Samuel called from inside.
"Daniel."
His tone was serious.
Daniel entered.
Samuel held an envelope delivered by courier.
No return address.
Inside was one final document.
A signed statement from Evelyn.
At the bottom were the words:
I ordered Hale to discredit Rebecca Carter.
Daniel stared at the confession.
May you like
Beneath it, Evelyn had written one more sentence.
Tell my granddaughters their mother was right.
