Chapter 27 - Margaret's ConfessionMargaret Whitmore did not deny anything.
She sat at Hannah’s kitchen table with Grace sleeping in her arms and listened while Noah explained what they had found.
When he finished, she kissed Grace’s forehead.
“I wondered when someone would discover it.”
Walter stared at his wife.
“You stole from me?”
Margaret looked at him.
“I redirected money.”
Grant nearly laughed.
Hannah covered her smile.
Walter looked betrayed.
“For thirty-two years?”
“Thirty-three.”
“You lied to me.”
Margaret’s expression sharpened.
“You sent one of our newborn sons away and allowed me to see him once in fifty-one years.”
Walter immediately became quiet.
Rebecca whispered:
“Mom wins.”
Ethan nodded.
“Absolutely.”
Grant pointed.
“Neither of you should be enjoying this.”
“We are,” Ethan said.
Noah sat awkwardly at the far end.
Margaret noticed.
She stood.
Walked toward him.
And touched his face.
Noah froze.
Margaret began crying.
“You have Gabriel’s eyes.”
Noah swallowed.
“You met him.”
“Once.”
“He remembered.”
Her face crumpled.
“He did?”
“He remembered everything.”
Noah pulled a photograph from his wallet.
Gabriel at nineteen.
Margaret took it with shaking hands.
“I wanted to go after him.”
Walter closed his eyes.
Margaret turned.
“I should have.”
“Margaret—”
“No.”
For perhaps the first time in their marriage, she stopped protecting Walter.
“I told myself keeping Grant safe justified losing Gabriel. Then I told myself Gabriel was happy with his adoptive family. Then I told myself contacting him would disrupt his life.”
She looked at Grant.
“Excuses become very comfortable when they prevent us from confronting our cowardice.”
Grant knew exactly what she meant.
Italy had taught him the same lesson.
Margaret looked at Noah.
“I cannot ask you to forgive me.”
Noah’s eyes filled.
“My father did.”
Margaret broke.
Noah caught her.
For several minutes, the kitchen became silent except for Margaret’s crying.
Later, Grant found Walter alone on the porch.
“You okay?”
Walter laughed bitterly.
“Do I deserve to be?”
Grant sat beside him.
“I used to ask myself that.”
“And?”
“Hannah taught me it’s the wrong question.”
Walter looked over.
“What’s the right one?”
“What are you going to do next?”
Walter stared across the field.
“I don't know.”
“Start with Noah.”
“He hates me.”
“Probably.”
Walter frowned.
“You’re enjoying that.”
“A little.”
Like father.
Like son.
Walter exhaled.
“I ruined everything.”
“No.”
Grant shook his head.
“You damaged things.”
“Difference?”
“Ruined means nothing can be done.”
Grant looked through the window.
Hannah was laughing with Rebecca.
Noah held Grace awkwardly.
Ethan was teaching Leo something that would almost certainly result in property damage.
Margaret wiped her eyes.
“Damaged means somebody can decide to rebuild.”
Walter looked at his son.
“You sound like Hannah.”
“Best thing anyone’s ever said about me.”
Walter smiled.
Then Grant’s phone buzzed.
Daniel.
Grant answered.
“Bennett.”
“Grant, I need Hannah.”
Grant’s smile vanished.
“Why?”
Daniel hesitated.
“It’s about Grace’s newborn screening.”
Grant stood.
Hannah saw his face through the window.
She immediately came outside.
“What?”
Grant handed her the phone.
Daniel spoke.
Hannah’s face lost all color.
May you like
“What do you mean the test was abnormal?”
Grant stopped breathing.
