I couldn’t speak.
“Where is my father?”
She looked down.
“Your father has been trying to protect you.”
“From what?”
“From the truth.”
“What truth?”
She closed the door.
Then whispered:
“You were not the daughter they kept.”
My heart hammered.
“What does that mean?”
“Your mother had twins.”
“I know.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“You don’t.”
Rosalyn stepped closer.
“Your mother gave birth to two girls. You and Elena.”
“What happened to Elena?”
Rosalyn’s eyes filled with tears.
“She died.”
“When?”
“Three years ago.”
I stared.
Three years.
Exactly when Paisley was born.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“Because Elena didn’t die naturally.”
The room seemed to shrink.
“How?”
Rosalyn looked at the floor.
“She was murdered.”
I covered my mouth.
“By whom?”
Rosalyn looked at me.
“Your mother.”
I recoiled.
“My mother died twelve years ago.”
“I know.”
“She couldn’t have murdered someone three years ago.”
