Chapter 7 - The Man in the ChapelThe handle turned.
Sarah backed away.
Margaret positioned herself between Sarah and the door.
Daniel stared at the knob.
It turned again.
Then stopped.
A voice came from the hallway.
“Sarah?”
She knew the voice.
Not from memory.
From recordings.
The same voice that had once spoken to her mother.
“Mom?”
Sarah covered her mouth.
Margaret's eyes widened.
Daniel whispered:
“Father.”
The door opened.
An elderly man stood there.
His hair was white.
His face was gaunt.
One side was scarred.
But his eyes were unmistakable.
Daniel fell to his knees.
“Dad…”
The man stared at him.
“You grew.”
Daniel began crying.
Sarah couldn't move.
Margaret looked away.
The old man entered slowly.
“Where is Eleanor?”
Daniel whispered:
“She knows you're alive.”
The old man smiled bitterly.
“She always knew.”
Sarah stepped forward.
“You're James Walker.”
“Yes.”
“My grandfather.”
James looked at Leo.
“Yes.”
Sarah held the baby closer.
James smiled.
“Your mother wanted you to know me.”
“Why didn't she tell me?”
“She tried.”
“What happened?”
James's eyes hardened.
“Eleanor stopped her.”
Sarah looked at Daniel.
“She killed my mother.”
James shook his head.
“No.”
Sarah stared.
“She didn't?”
“Your mother died because she was protecting you from me.”
Sarah didn't understand.
“What does that mean?”
James took a breath.
“Eleven years ago, Eleanor discovered that your mother had located the Aster Archive.”
“The recordings.”
“Yes.”
“She threatened to expose your mother.”
“Yes.”
“And Daniel…”
James looked at his son.
“Was manipulated.”
Daniel wiped his eyes.
“I was told she was going to kill you.”
“She wanted you to believe that.”
Daniel's voice broke.
“I caused the accident.”
James closed his eyes.
“You did.”
Sarah stepped backward.
Daniel looked at her.
“I didn't know your mother was in that car.”
Sarah whispered:
“You knew someone was.”
“I thought it was my father's guard.”
“But it was my mother.”
Daniel nodded.
Sarah's eyes burned.
“You let me marry you.”
“I loved you.”
“You knew what your mother did.”
“I knew pieces.”
“You knew enough.”
Daniel couldn't answer.
James interrupted.
“Sarah.”
She looked at him.
“There is one more thing.”
“What?”
James's expression became grim.
“Leo is not Daniel's child.”
Sarah's heart stopped.
“What?”
James looked toward the sleeping baby.
“Your mother suspected Eleanor would try to claim him one day.”
Sarah shook her head.
“Stop.”
James continued.
“Before she died, she changed the family records.”
“To what?”
James looked at Sarah.
“She made Leo the legal heir.”
Sarah looked at the birth certificate again.
“But if he's not Daniel's…”
James nodded.
“He isn't.”
Daniel whispered:
“That's impossible.”
James looked at him.
“Ask Eleanor.”
A silence followed.
Then footsteps echoed from the chapel corridor.
Eleanor appeared.
She looked at James.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Then Eleanor smiled.
“Father.”
James's face hardened.
“Don't call me that.”
Eleanor looked at Sarah.
“You found him.”
“You knew.”
“Of course.”
Sarah's hands trembled.
“What is Leo's real name?”
Eleanor stared at the baby.
Then she said:
“Leonard James Walker.”
Sarah frowned.
“That's his full name.”
“Yes.”
“Then what are you hiding?”
Eleanor looked at Daniel.
And then at James.
“The person he was born to.”
Sarah's heart pounded.
“You said Daniel isn't his father.”
“He isn't.”
“Then who is?”
Eleanor smiled.
“Your mother knew.”
Sarah whispered:
“Who?”
Eleanor answered with six words.
“The man who is still alive.”
Everyone froze.
James turned pale.
“That's impossible.”
Eleanor's smile widened.
“You've been looking in the wrong place.”
Then the mansion lights went out again.
A child's voice came from the hallway.
“Mom?”
Sarah froze.
Leo began crying.
The voice came again.
“Mom…”
Sarah stared at the darkness.
“That isn't Leo.”
James whispered:
“No.”
From somewhere upstairs came a man's voice.
“Hello, Sarah.”
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And this time…
she recognized it.
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