Heath stiffened. The truth he'd kept hidden all this time was about to be revealed.
“This was well before I married your dad,” she said to mom. “He was very good to me. Owned a nice patch of land, and gave me a shop of my own so I could make a living. It was only natural that he and I fell in love.”
Vivian cooed about how sweet it was. Maybe all the drinks she'd knocked back made her forget the family's history.
“I was so in love, in fact, that I completely overlooked the fact that he was already married to someone else. He wouldn't leave his wife – it would have caused a scandal in those days – so, sadly, Charles Carrington and I could never truly be together.”
There were a few gasps and startled cries from around the room. Asher shot me a look. I knew what it meant. Grandma wanted very much to keep her relationship with Charles a secret from everyone. Why was she coming forward now, like this?
Heath jumped to his feet, his face redder than a tomato. “That's right! He never really loved you, did he? You were nothing to him. Nothing but a side piece.”
Guests at the table tried to pull him back into his chair. He shrugged them off, determined to try and intimidate grandma. It would never work.
“But then something happened that would've been an even bigger scandal for him. I fell pregnant with his child. Now, that was a problem. He already had a child with his wife. That would be you, Heath.”
Heath clenched his fists. “Don't you dare say another word.”
“Or what? Sorry, but I'm done keeping secrets for your family. It's high time mine gets a slice of the pie you've enjoyed for so long.”
She pulled an old, weathered picture from her pocket and showed it to everyone. It was a photo of a baby girl.
“This is the beautiful child Charles gave me. How I would have loved to raise her together with him, but it was not to be. Shortly after her birth, he vanished from town and was never seen again.”
Ellen snatched the photo and studied it with shaking hands. “But mom... Isn't this me?”
Grandma nodded. “I'm so sorry I hid this from you for so long. Yes, you and Carol don't share the same dad. Charles was your father.”
Ellen looked shell-shocked. Lana hurried to try and comfort her, but she brushed her away and stared at Heath.
“That means you're my half-brother,” she said softly, glancing from grandma to Heath, then back again. “I don't understand. How can this be true?”
“All lies,” Heath growled. “You're no sister of mine. You're not a Carrington.”
“I never wanted to have to tell you, Ellen. Figured it would be better if you just didn't know. But then a certain young man told me something that convinced me. Made me realize you had to know the truth.”
She gave Asher an approving nod. He weakly smiled back. What was going on now? Had Asher talked to her about what we found in the will?
“Since Charles vanished, I figured that would be the end of it and moved on with my life. Imagine my surprise when I was made aware that he'd written a will.”
“Not another word – ”
Vivian grabbed his arm and shook her head. “Stop. You knew this was bound to come out sooner or later, dear. This isn't something you could keep hidden forever.”
He may well have done just that, though, if it weren't for our snooping. His shoulders slumped and he leaned back in his chair, defeated.
Grandma pulled something else out of her purse, a single sheet of paper with the words “Will and Testament” printed boldly at the top.
“It turns out these things are public record. Did ya know that? Well, I'd never have known to even look if it weren't for Asher.” She scanned the document. “Ah, here it is. 'All land is to be divided evenly between children.'”
With renewed energy, Heath leaped out of his seat. “Sure, it does say that. I'll admit as much. But does it name Ellen as one of his kids, huh?”
“Hm. Does it name you?”
He stammered. “Don't be absurd. Obviously, I'm his son. The birth certificate alone proves as much.”
“I met my husband, God rest his soul, while pregnant with Ellen. He was kind, sympathetic, and married me anyway. He let me put his name as the father when she was born, just so there wouldn't be any... awkward questions.”
“Aha! You see?” Heath seemed to be addressing the entire room. “She has no proof.”
“I have this.”
Grandma produced a yellowed piece of paper covered in fancy handwriting. Clearly, the letter was very old.
“I received this note in the mail shortly after Charles disappeared. Back then, I had no idea what to make of it – until now.”
The mysterious letter silenced even Heath. We all waited impatiently for her to read it.
“I'm sorry, my dearest Hazel. Due to various circumstances, I must leave town and am not likely to ever return. I am sorry I couldn't be there to see our daughter born. Rest assured, however, that one day little Ellen will receive all she deserves. You will know everything when the time comes.”
Ellen. He had known the baby's name.
“That's his handwriting,” Macy helpfully added. “Look. It matches the writing on his will.”
“So he didn't include Ellen's name in the will to avoid a scandal for the family. Still, he didn't want to leave her out of her inheritance. Must have figured that she'd eventually link the pieces together herself.”
Asher had been very quiet the whole time. Heath turned his
