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I thought for a moment. “I don’t suppose there has been.”
“Why would I start now?”
I actually felt like a bit of a wanker, given Sam appeared perfectly fine, unaffected, and she’d been the one in grave danger. As I got out of the SUV and came around to open her door, I told myself to buck and be there for her, rather than fret over myself. Actually, I think it was my mum’s voice I heard speaking in my head.
When we presented the documents to the bank manager and he asked Sam to follow him to the vault, I hesitated. She was two steps away, but came back, took my hand, and pulled me with her.
“Would you like me to do that?” I asked when Sam’s hand shook trying to put in the second key that would allow the bank manager to open the box.
“Would you?”
“I’ll leave you to view the contents. Just press that blue button when you’re finished, and I’ll come back.” He had his hand on the door. “Just don’t press the red button.”
Once he left, I said, “What do you suppose it does? He didn’t say, did he?”
Both Sam and I burst out laughing. “Little does he know that is the last thing someone should say to you.” She rolled her eyes, then leaned forward and kissed me.
I couldn’t speak for her, but a couple of minutes of laughter helped alleviate some of my stress.
“Are you certain you want me here while you do this?”
My darling Samantha glared at me. “Are you seriously going to make me say itagain?”
“All right. My apologies,” I said, holding up both my hands.
“Here goes.”
I watched Sam remove an envelope, reach inside, and pull out a handwritten letter.
29
SAM
Igently unfolded the letter I knew would change my life. I’d never be Samantha Marquez, the girl who had no idea where she came from, again. Taking a deep breath, I began reading.
Dear Samantha,
I’m sure you have many questions, for which I have at least some answers.
To begin, I was ninety-seven years old when I found out I had a granddaughter and great-granddaughter. Tragically, I learned your mother, Madeline, had passed away only weeks before. But there was you, and you, I would protect.
While I could never prove it, I believe the accident that took my precious son’s life was not one at all. I believe he was murdered. I also believed that if I made contact with you, if anyone learned of your existence before my death, you would also be in danger. Know that if you are reading this, the threat to you is no longer.
I have a confession to make to you, and I will not try to explain why I did what I did or give excuses. It is my life’s biggest regret, the one thing I would take back if only I could.
My dear son, Manley, who was named for his father, loved your grandmother very much. It was only after I spent years watching him relentlessly search for her that I realized the depth of that love. He never married, never had the family he didn’t know existed. Never had happiness. All because of me.
I am the one who drove Pilar away. Forced her to leave. Thus, destroying five lives.
I believed she wasn’t good enough for Manley, believed she only wanted his money. I learned differently when I discovered she hadn’t taken what I offered her to leave. I thought to pay her off to prove to my son she didn’t truly love him. In truth, she loved him far more than I did. She loved him enough to never tell him the horrible thing I did. She allowed him to live his life believing his mother was a good person. That this is the one and only time I confessed this sin is proof that I am not.
I have many regrets, but none bigger than not allowing my son to love who he wanted to, the way he wanted to, where he wanted to. If I had, I would’ve known the one thing I never did—the joy of grandchildren. Instead, I lived the rest of my life alone after my son’s death. I had endless hours of utter loneliness to think about the mistakes I made.
I lost so much—my husband, my daughter, and my son—and you and your mother too. I can assure you, all the money in the world could never make up for any of those losses.
I died a very wealthy but very unhappy woman. I tell you this, not so you will feel sorry for me, but to assure you that I have paid heavily for my sins.
I know much about you, Samantha, but I don’t know you at all. Another regret. It does not change what I wish for you, though.
