Page 18 of Kept in the Dark

“Actually, I was wondering if Trinity and I could stay a few more days. There’re some people I’d like to catch up with, but I don’t want to outstay our welcome.”

Lauren’s face lit up. “Of course you can. Stay as long as you’d like.”

“Thanks, Lauren. I really appreciate it.”

“No problem, Sugar. We’re family, remember?”

Again, Lauren was being kind, but Hailey still thought it was weird that David had married her, given the nearly thirty-year age gap.

Hailey went back inside to get a drink before leaving again. She wanted to talk to her Uncle Eli and get his thoughts on the video. Since he was the Chief at the time, and first on the scene, he would have a lot more insight into the situation than anyone else.

Genevieve walked into the kitchen and said, “I need to give you something.” She motioned for Hailey to follow her. When they got to the mudroom in the back of the house, Genevieve retrieved her purse and pulled out two books.

“You’re giving me books?” Hailey asked.

“Diaries. They were your mother’s and it’s the only ones I could sneak out of here before your father threw the rest away.” She paused for a moment. “I think Sara would like them too, but I don’t know where she is now or how to get them to her.”

Hailey didn’t know what to say. She hadn’t even known her mother had kept diaries.

“Have you read them?” Hailey asked.

“I wanted to. I miss her so much, but it always felt wrong. So, I saved them, hoping you’d come back. It might be nice for Trinity to read too, to get to know her grandmother.”

Hailey’s eyes misted. It was odd to think that Morgan was a grandmother, just one who would never know her grandchild. Hailey spent a great deal of time being angry that Morgan would never meet Trinity, or that she missed out on her first steps and first words. Morgan wasn’t able to come to any soccer games or dance recitals. And Hailey was still grieved she had to be in the delivery room alone when she should have had her mother there to hold her hand.

“You don’t have to read them now, but Trinity is occupied if you want to.” Genevieve kissed her forehead and left the room.

Hailey stood motionless, staring at the books. She wanted to read them. To see her mother’s words, to feel close to her again, but she was afraid of the rush of emotions it would surely bring. Thirteen years later and she was still grieving.

Yet, she was drawn in.

So she went back to her room, opened the French doors to the balcony and sat in one of the rocking chairs that was still in the corner.

Before opening the first diary, she traced its cover with her finger, reminiscing about a time long before their world was turned upside down. Then she took a deep breath and flipped to the first entry dated 1977.

The journal started with everyday routines and a few personal thoughts of Morgan’s. Her handwriting was girly and bubbly, much like Morgan herself. Hailey smiled as she could recall many times when her father claimed that if Barbie could write, her handwriting would be that of Morgan Gallagher’s.

As Hailey read, she could almost hear her mother speaking through the pages as she told the story of meeting David for the first time. Eventually, the story changed and the two were engaged and then getting married.

The entries got shorter toward the end of the diary and were few and far between. Hailey didn’t read anything alarming until the third to last entry.

Morgan’s tone changed from a woman who was madly in love to that of a suspicious wife:

David has been acting strange. He’s staying late for meetings, isn’t speaking much during family dinner, and seems distracted. I continually ask him if something is upsetting him only to be met with excuses of new laws and political problems. I’m not sure I believe him.

What kind of a wife does that make me? A wife who doesn’t trust her husband isn’t a good wife at all. My heart is heavy with guilt for feeling this way, but my instincts tell me something is wrong.

I can only hope that in time he will be honest with me. I can only hope that I am wrong and foolish for thinking the worst of the man whom I've vowed to spend my life with.

I can only hope he is not having an affair.

Hailey re-read the entry, making sure she wasn’t misreading the words that had been written decades before, even before she and Sara had come into the world.

Morgan’s words didn’t change, and Hailey’s heart broke for her mother.

Though she was shocked to see that Morgan suspected David of having an affair, Hailey somehow wasn’t surprised by the accusation. He was, after all, the most selfish person she had ever met, and he cared very little about anyone but himself. Including his beloved wife, and especially his daughters.

David hated that he had daughters.

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