flap. On top was a sheet of lined paper, ripped from some sort of notepad.
Darling Alexis,
If you’re reading this note it means I’m in trouble and never got a chance to explain. Hang on to this briefcase. A woman named Kathy can tell you the rest. I don’t remember her last name, but I’m sure she’ll be in touch.
So typical of her father. He could never remember names or details. Kathy might really be Suzy or Betty or something that wasn’t even remotely close to that.
Don’t let anyone know you have this in your possession. I’m sorry to put this onus on you, but I may not have a choice. I’m not sure about the legality of this money. I trusted the wrong person years ago and a lot of people were hurt as a result. It’s too late to make amends to some of them, including you, but I’m going to try. I’m sorry, Alexis. I know I’ve been a lousy father. I wasn’t the best husband, either. Lois deserved so much more than I could give her.
Alexis wiped at her burning eyes. Whatever else had been wrong with his world, her father truly had loved them both.
Saying I’m sorry really doesn’t cut it, but it’s all I can say. I can’t make the past go away or change the decision that we made. I’m a weak man, Alexis. A stronger, better person would have told you the truth a long time ago.
The note was rambling. He must have been drinking when he’d written it. The penmanship was sloppy, but it was definitely her father’s handwriting.
I’m sorry for that, too, but as it turns out, even I didn’t know the truth until recently. I still don’t, at least not all of it. God, I wish I’d told you this in person! Your mother and I couldn’t have children, Alexis.
What? Her heart began to pound as his words burned away her entire life.
Lois wanted a baby desperately, so we applied to adopt. We were told it might take years. You know how much I loved her. I would have given Lois the moon if it had been possible. I knew it would kill her to wait indefinitely, with no certainty that we’d ever get a baby to call our own. Instead, I knew someone who knew of a doctor that might be willing to bend the rules for us. I’m sorry, Alexis, I knew it would be an illegal adoption, but I didn’t care at the time.
She was adopted? It couldn’t be true. It mustn’t be true. Her whole life had been a lie? She wanted to crumple the damning paper in her hand and throw it away, but he’d looked at her through eyes that were dying and had said he’d wished she’d been his.
The paper shook so badly she could barely hold it still enough to continue reading.
The doctor claimed he knew an unwed girl willing to see her baby go to a good home for enough money to go to college and start over. If we could cover his fee and pay the girl, he was willing to take a chance and help us all. I’d like to believe if we’d known the truth, we wouldn’t have gone through with your adoption, but Lois wanted a baby so badly, I don’t know.
What truth? What had he done?
We didn’t ask any questions. We never met your birth mother. You were only a few hours old when the doctor’s nurse placed you in Lois’s arms. You were such a beautiful, perfect little baby girl. I wish you could have seen Lois’s look of joy. It was worth everything. You may not have been our biological child, but we always thought of you that way, you have to believe me. We loved you, Alexis. I loved you. I know I haven’t been there for you since Lois died. I let my grief consume me instead of thinking about you like I should have. It’s too late to make that up to you now. All I can say is I’m sorry, Alexis.
She wiped at the burning tears that slipped down her cheeks. The car was so hot she was suffocating. She turned on the ignition to let the air conditioner run, wiping at her tears until her vision became less blurred.
It wasn’t entirely his fault. She should have tried harder to get him to seek help. If she’d been a better daughter…but she wasn’t really his daughter. The enormity of that was still hard to accept.
Alexis stared at the money. Once again, fear gripped her. Had her father done something awful in an attempt to make things up to her? She gripped the note, fearing the answer it must contain.
I just learned that the doctor who forged your birth certificate was murdered recently. I did some snooping and learned the awful truth. Your real mother never gave you up for adoption, Alexis. I don’t think she even knew you existed.
How was that possible? This made no sense. She didn’t want to read any more. Her father’s words were tearing her world to shreds. How could he not have told her this?
The doctor had been murdered. Now her father had been murdered. If she wasn’t careful, was she the next in line to be killed?
When I realized what that man had done, I was sick. I think if he hadn’t already been dead I’d have been tempted to murder him myself. How could any man, especially a doctor, have no soul? He pulled you from her body and gave you away with no remorse. It still sickens me to think about it. I’ll carry this horror to my grave. I wonder if God will forgive me for my part in this. I guess I’ll know soon enough. I’ve been lying to you, Alexis, about more than just your birth. I know you thought my drinking was simply grief over Lois’s death. And it did start out that way, but the truth is, I’ve been ill for some time now. I’m dying, Alexis. The cancer is inoperable. I didn’t want you to know. The alcohol helps dull the pain.
Shock blurred the words on the page. She pictured how thin he had grown…and knew the words were true. Why hadn’t he told her? Why had he lied and lied and lied to her?
Grief mingled with anger and guilt. He hadn’t been the best father since her mother…since Lois had died, but what sort of daughter had she been? So angry over his drinking and his refusal to get help, she’d stopped paying much attention to him. For a second her eyes closed in grief and self-recriminations. But she had to finish, to know it all. There’d be time for castigation later.
I’ve been trying to make things right as much as I can, but the truth of your real parentage, well, I can’t give you back those years. Not you or your real family. But I’ve gathered together all the proof you should need to convince them of the truth. The only thing is, the more I learn, the more the situation makes me nervous.
Her real family. She had a real family. Why hadn’t he told her this? How could he have let her go on living every day without telling her?
The nurse who brought you to us was there at the cemetery that day.
What cemetery?
I’m pretty sure she saw me. She isn’t going to want you to come forward, Alexis. It’s the last thing she’ll want. What she and that doctor did wasn’t just horrible, it was illegal. She could go to prison. She should go to prison. She’s as guilty as he is. So you’re going to have to be real careful, Alexis. I figure you’ll need help before you go to see your family. The truth is, I’m not sure what sort of a reception you’ll get from any of them. You’re one of the rightful heirs, you see.
No, she didn’t see. She didn’t understand any of this. It was like a bad movie script. How could this be happening?
This envelope contains all the proof you need to claim your birthright. Take it to Ira Rosencroft. He’s an attorney in upstate New York.
This couldn’t be real. Her father had made some horrible mistake. Horrible enough to get him killed.
The
