She knew. She knew she was going to die. She suspected something was wrong. She'd been having chest pains for months, but refused to see a doctor. She was afraid if something was wrong, she'd die before she could tell you the truth about Lily.
Rachel pressed the journal into his hands. She was right to be afraid. Daniel looked at the journal worn leather pages stuffed with loose papers and photographs. Victoria's handwriting on the cover. for Daniel when I find the courage. Tonight, he said 8:00.
I'll text you my address. Rachel nodded, touched Lily's hair gently, and walked away. Daniel watched her go, then looked down at the journal in his hands. More secrets, more revelations, more ghosts from a past Victoria had never shared. Daddy.
Yeah, baby. Was that Lady Miss Victoria's family? Daniel thought about that, about the empty front pews at the funeral, about the absence of parents, siblings, anyone who shared Victoria's blood. I don't know, sweetheart, but I think we're going to find out. Rachel arrived at 8:00 sharp, carrying a box of old photographs and a bottle of wine Daniel didn't touch.
Lily was already in bed, exhausted from the funeral and the emotions of the past few days. Daniel sat across from Rachel at his kitchen table. Victoria's journal between them like a bomb waiting to explode. Start from the beginning, he said. Tell me everything.
Rachel took a long drink of wine. Victoria was my big sister, 8 years older. When I was a kid, she was my hero. Beautiful, smart, fearless. She was going to change the world.
Rachel's voice turned bitter. Then she got pregnant. What happened? Our parents happened. Edward and Margaret Hayes.
Old money, old values, old prejudices. Rachel poured another glass. Victoria was 18, just finished high school, about to start at Yale. She met a boy that summer, charming, handsome, full of promises. When she told him she was pregnant, he disappeared.
Who was he? Some trust fund kid from Connecticut? James something? Victoria never told me his last name? Rachel shrugged.
Doesn't matter. He was gone and Victoria was alone and our parents gave her an ultimatum. Give up the baby or lose everything. You know about that, Bradford told me. Victoria wrote about it in her letter.
Rachel nodded slowly. Our parents were obsessed with appearances. A teenage pregnancy would have been a scandal, so they made Victoria choose give up the baby and pretend it never happened or be cut off completely. No money, no family, no future, and she gave up the baby. She was 18, Daniel.
Scared alone, abandoned by the only boy she'd ever loved. Our parents promised her it was for the best, that the baby would go to a good family, that Victoria could go to Yale and have a real life. Rachel's eyes filled with tears. They lied about all of it. What do you mean?