Mrs. Wilson squeezed my hand.
“Your mother made a terrible choice, Emily. But she believed it was the only way to keep you alive.”
Before I could ask another question, Mrs. Wilson leaned closer.
“There is something Alex kept asking me.”
“What?”
“He wanted to know where Margaret hid the blue ledger.”
A chill ran through me.
“The blue ledger?”
She nodded.
“He said it was worth millions.”
***
I drove straight to my mother's house.
She was sitting in the living room when I arrived.
I didn't waste time.
“Where is the blue ledger?”
Her teacup slipped from her hands.
It shattered against the floor.
For several seconds, she stared at me.
Then she whispered:
“Who told you about that?”
“Mrs. Wilson.”
My mother closed her eyes.
“I should have known Helen would remember.”
“Mom, stop hiding things from me.”
She looked suddenly old.
Older than I'd ever seen her.
