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Claire and Yuki chimed in in unison. “It’s off the record.”
“Right. Okay, Cindy?”
“Yes ma’am. You betcha.”
I blew her a kiss, then said, “My mother left me a letter before she died. She actually left it with Marty, and he left it with his attorney who gave it to me on Monday.”
“The letter,” Claire said. “You haven’t read it?”
“Nope, and I have no idea what it says. Wanted to share it with you guys, whatever Mom wanted to tell me.”
Three pairs of eyes were pinned on me. Beer mugs were set down. I used a knife to slit the flap and pulled out a stiff folded piece of blue stationery. Mom must’ve written this close to the end. Her handwriting was very shaky, and she’d only filled half of the card.
I squinted, read it fast, then said, “My mother wrote:
Dearest Lindsay,
I’ll always be your mother. And Marty will always be your father… In name only. It was never the right time to tell you that he wasn’t your biological father. That was someone else. Someone who was a brief but important presence in my life. Because he gave you yours.
Time is short, but we all must move forward. I advise you to dismiss the past. If you spend too much time there, it can bring you down. Just keep moving forward. Know that I love you, that you’ve already made me so very proud. I see great things ahead for you and when you think of me, please remember my love.
Forever, Mom
Inside the card was another surprise. A photo I’d never seen before, showing Mom holding newborn me.
We all got a little teary. Of the four of us, only Cindy had a mother who was still alive, and she never discussed her. I thought my mother’s advice was good—up to a point. But sharing secrets and remembering tough things was how you learned. My opinion.
Lorraine brought our meals, we ate like we’d never seen food before, and because we were all driving, we switched to club soda.
The key lime pie was on the table when I saw Sonia Alvarez coming through the narrow corridor.
She said, “Okay to come outside for a second, Lindsay? I have something to tell you.”
I said “pardon me” to my girlfriends, all of whom had met Alvarez before, and went outdoors with my newest pard.
“I’d invite you to join us, but we just asked for the check,” I said.
She waved my noninvitation away.
“I’ve got news.”
“Good or bad?”
“Good. Only.”
“Oh, man. Am I ready.”
Alvarez said, “Like I already said, I asked Hallows to strip Cavanaugh’s gun down to the pieces and parts. He did it. He found a fleck of blood. Hallows rushed the DNA test.”
“Whose blood?”
“You’re not going to guess? Spoil all my fun?”
“Tell me. Please.”
“Joanna Lake.”
It took two or three seconds to get it, and then I said, “Oh, my God.”
