Chapter 6 - When June's Memory Finally Failed Her, She Called Mara by the Name of the Woman Who Had Been Dead for Twenty YearsThe call came at 2:14 a.m.
Wesley answered.
"Mom?"
No response.
He could hear the television.
Then a soft voice.
"Arthur?"
Wesley sat up.
"Mom, it's me."
"Where is Arthur?"
Wesley's father had been dead for twenty-four years.
Wesley swallowed.
"It's okay."
He drove to her house.
Mara followed.
June was sitting in the living room clutching an old photograph.
She looked at Mara.
Then smiled.
"Claire."
Mara froze.
June believed she was talking to Mara's aunt.
"I know I'm old," June whispered.
"But I still remember."
She handed Mara the photograph.
It showed June, Wesley's father, Mara's father and another woman.
Mara recognized the woman immediately.
Her mother.
Her hand trembled.
"What is this?"
June looked at her.
"The night they made the deal."
"What deal?"
"To protect the company."
Mara studied the photograph.
There were documents on the table.
Her mother's hand rested over them.
"Your mother was involved," June said.
Mara's heart pounded.
"How?"
"She was the one who found Daniel's fraud."
Then June revealed the secret.
Mara's mother had discovered the stolen research.
She had tried to expose Daniel.
He threatened her.
To protect her daughter, she withdrew.
Mara had always believed her mother simply hated the business world.
She hadn't.
She had been afraid.
And Mara's father had spent the rest of his life trying to repair what fear had broken.
Mara cried.
"I never knew."
June touched her face.
"You weren't supposed to."
Wesley stood behind her.
His mother looked at him.
"Your father loved you more than anything."
"I know."
"Don't make his mistake."
"What mistake?"
"Don't let fear decide whom you love."
Wesley looked at Mara.
The room became very still.
Later, outside, he sat on the porch.
Mara joined him.
"I think our parents spent their entire lives running from the same truth."
"What truth?"
"That they trusted each other."
Wesley looked at her.
"And we spent ours inheriting their fear."
She nodded.
He reached for her hand.
This time, she did not hesitate.
They kissed beneath the porch light.
It was gentle.
Unhurried.
Certain.
When they pulled apart, Mara smiled.
"We're terrible at simple."
Wesley laughed.
"Maybe we're getting better."
Inside, June watched through the window.
May you like
She smiled.
For the first time in years, she wasn't afraid of what would happen next.
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