Page 76 of One of Six

I add, "She was pregnant when she died." I let the statement hang in the air.

"I investigated her disappearance and death but found nothing. Richard swore he knew nothing. I never believed him, even though I wanted to." He runs a hand over his face. "Both Richard and Judge are getting suspicious with you around, Ed. We need to end this soon."

"What have you found, Ed?" Essex asks.

"They all have some connection to Lincoln Construction and a huge development called Green Oaks."

I feel a reaction in Essex as he catches his breath. "That's where my father died."

Ed and David both freeze and stare at Essex. I spin in his arms and cradle his bristly jaw. "I'm so sorry," I whisper.

Essex kisses me gently and says, "You have nothing to be sorry for." He holds me close and says over my head. "We have to go to Green Oaks."

"People live there now," David says. "I'm not even sure where to start."

"We need a timeline," Ed adds. "I need something more visual than the laptop."

"Moms got a whiteboard and markers." He shrugs. "She teaches cooking with Daisy and helps with a new mom’s group."

"Let's go," Ed says, closing the laptop.

"He seems eager," I comment, chuckling as Essex groans.

"Atilio can handle Ed and Mom."

Laughing, I step out of his arms. "How old is your mom?"

His eyes narrow as he holds my gaze. I raise an eyebrow, waiting for him to finish.

"Forty-five. She was nineteen when she had Atilio."

"Surely you don't want your mom to be alone for the rest of her life. I mean, it might not be Ed, but one day she might be ready to move on."

Essex swallows hard. "I agree with all of that. It's just hard to imagine her with someone who isn't my dad."

I lean over and kiss his cheek. "I love you."

"I love you too, babe." He plants a kiss on my lips. "We better go, Mom might not be too happy that David is here."

"Oh no! I didn't think of that."

After takinga picture of the whiteboard, Maggie wipes it clean while exchanging glances with Ed.

I glance over at Essex to see if he's noticed, and he has. I catch his eye and he rolls his with a grin on his handsome face.

While they're getting organized, I know what I must do. I join Essex. "I'm going to sit out front and read my mom's letter."

His eyes fill with concern, so I give him a gentle smile. "Give me ten minutes, then come find me, okay?"

"I can do that." A gentle hand caresses my cheek, and then he nods.

I squeeze his hand and walk out. I bypass the table and chairs and very gently settle into the hammock. I retrieve the letter and drop my backpack on the wooden deck.

Tears well in my eyes as I run my fingers over my name on the envelope, written in Mom's unique handwriting.

I swallow hard and open the envelope, surprised to see another envelope appear along with my letter. The other one is addressed to David. I frown, wondering why Mom would leave a letter for David with mine. I put it on my stomach and slowly open mine, my hands shaking.

My darling Beatrice,

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