“Wait.”
The voice came again.
“Etta, listen to me.”
I stepped toward the door.
Then Emilio grabbed my wrist.
“It’s a recording.”
I stared at him.
“How do you know?”
“Because your mother died seven years ago.”
I pulled away.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“And you never told me?”
“I tried.”
“When?”
“Three times.”
“Why didn’t I know?”
“Because every time I tried, someone stopped the message.”
I looked at the old boxes around us.
“How long have you known?”
“Nineteen years.”
I stared at him.
“My entire life has been a lie.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“Your mother lied to protect you.”
“From Rafe?”
“Yes.”
“And your daughter?”
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
Emilio looked toward the floor.
“I don’t know.”
Then a small sound came from behind one of the boxes.
A phone.
It was ringing.
I found it underneath an old coat.
The screen showed one word.
ELEANOR.
Emilio stopped breathing.
I answered.
“Hello?”
A woman’s voice came through.
“Etta?”
“Yes.”
“Thank God.”
“Who are you?”
There was a long pause.
“I’m your sister.”
I dropped the phone.
Emilio closed his eyes.
The truth was finally coming.
Eleanor wasn’t dead.
She had been hidden.
And my mother had protected her.
