The Boy in the Photograph
Chapter 05 - The Boy in the Photograph
Claire searched Andrew’s letters all night.
One mentioned a cabin in Vermont.
Another mentioned a woman named Helen.
Melissa traced the address.
Helen Hayes.
Rebecca’s mother.
Claire drove there the next morning.
An elderly woman opened the door.
She looked at Claire.
Then Lily.
And immediately began crying.
“You found the necklace.”
Claire froze.
“You knew?”
Helen nodded.
“Come inside.”
Photographs covered the walls.
Rebecca.
Samuel.
Andrew.
Lily stopped in front of one picture.
A boy of about twelve smiled beside a lake.
“Mommy, he has Daddy’s eyes.”
Claire swallowed.
“Yes.”
Helen told her Rebecca was alive.
So was Samuel.
But they had spent years hiding.
Not from Andrew.
From Charles.
Andrew and Charles had inherited Morgan Senior Living after their father died.
Andrew discovered Charles had been stealing millions from residents’ trust accounts.
When Andrew threatened to expose him, Charles retaliated.
He accused Rebecca of financial fraud.
Evidence was planted.
Rebecca feared she would lose custody of Samuel.
So Andrew helped her disappear.
“Why didn’t he tell me?”
Helen looked at Claire sadly.
“Because then Charles could use you too.”
Claire shook her head.
“He lied to me every day.”
“Yes.”
Helen did not defend him.
“That was wrong.”
Then a door opened behind them.
A teenage boy stepped into the room.
He had Andrew’s eyes.
Samuel.
He stared at Lily.
Lily stared back.
Claire whispered:
“Samuel?”
The boy looked at her.
“Are you Claire?”
“Yes.”
His eyes filled with tears.
“My dad talked about you.”
Claire could barely breathe.
“What did he say?”
Samuel looked at Lily.
May you like
Then back at her.
“He said you were the family he wished he could bring home.”
