“I couldn’t agree more.”
She took my hand and led me away to a quieter spot. Then she said the most unexpected thing.
“Linda, it’s time we had a heart-to-heart.”
For the first time, her face softened.
“You’re a wonderful woman, Caroline,” she said in a low voice, “and I’m worried my father is deceiving you.”
“What are you talking about?”
She glanced back toward the main gathering. When she looked back at me, her eyes were filled with tears.
“I can’t just stand by and watch this anymore. He’s not who he says he is. The man you married died 20 years ago. Come to the basement. I’ll show you everything.”
“My father is deceiving you.”
She started toward the back door.
After a moment’s hesitation, I followed her.
The basement smelled like dust and damp cardboard. In the far corner sat a scratched metal box.
“It’s in here.” Linda’s hands shook as she unlocked it.
Inside were photographs, envelopes, and yellowed documents. She handed me a photo first.
“This is a photo I took of my father, 23 years ago.”
In the far corner sat a scratched metal box.
It was Arthur, but he looked different. His smile was softer, and his posture was more open.
“I don’t understand…”
“Maybe this will explain it.”
She passed me another photograph. In this one, two young men stood side by side with matching faces and different expressions. Twins.
“He never told me he had a twin brother,” I said.
“Nobody told me either.” Linda held out two documents. “Arthur and Michael. Nobody in our family ever talked about Michael. He must’ve done something terrible to get kicked out of the family.”
I stared at Linda. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“Nobody told me either.”
Linda sighed. “When I was 18, Dad went away for a week on business. When he came back, he wasn’t right. He forgot things, suddenly developed weird habits, and didn’t even speak the same way. And whenever I questioned it, he made me feel crazy.”
She certainly sounded crazy, but I didn’t interrupt.
“He said I was confusing things because I hadn’t processed my mother’s death. I started to believe him. Then, a year ago, I found this.”
She handed me the last document.
My knees nearly gave way.
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