“I know. And I should have fought harder.” She stepped aside. “Please come in. There’s something you need to understand.”
I followed her into a sitting room filled with expensive furniture and family portraits.
I realized I’d wasted too much time.
One photograph caught my attention.
James stood beside a much younger Noah.
“How old is that picture?”
“Three years.”
My stomach dropped. “James came here?”
I should have fought harder.
“Sometimes.”
“While I was home taking care of six children?”
“Elizabeth…”
“Was Noah his son?”
Margaret closed her eyes. “No.”
James came here?
“Then tell me who he is.”
Margaret looked toward the staircase and said, “He’s the reason James stopped speaking to his father.”
“What does Noah have to do with their falling out?” I demanded.
But that wasn’t the only secret James had taken to his grave.
And I was about to discover just how much his family expected from me.
Who he is.
“My husband had affairs throughout our marriage,” Margaret admitted. “Fourteen years ago, one of those women gave birth to Noah.”
“He’s James’s brother?”
“His half-brother. Noah’s mother left when he was a baby, so we took him in.”
“And James hated you for raising him?”
How much his family expected from me?
“No. He hated that his father brought another woman’s child into our home and expected everyone to pretend nothing had happened.”
“And you went along with it?”
“I defended my husband. James told me I was choosing a man who’d humiliated me over my own son.”
“So he walked away?”
We took him in.
“His father told him to accept the situation or leave. James left. I didn’t stop him.”
“Why didn’t he ever tell me?”
“He was ashamed of what happened. He said he’d built a happy family with you and wanted to leave ours behind.”
“Then why did he come back?”
“After his father died, James heard Noah was lonely. He came to see him, just once.”
I was choosing a man who’d humiliated me.
“But he kept coming.”
“Yes. He loved the boy. He visited when he could, but he was afraid you’d think he’d forgiven us.”
“He could’ve explained that.”
“I know. He kept putting it off. Then he got sick and said you already had enough to worry about.”
James heard Noah was lonely.
I shook my head. “He should’ve trusted me.”
“Yes, Elizabeth. He should have.”
I looked at the photograph.
James had loved his brother.
But why had he sent me here?
He kept putting it off.
“Margaret, what exactly do you want from me?”
She reached for a tissue. “I’m dying, Elizabeth.”
I said nothing.
“My doctors believe I have only a few months.”
“I’m sorry.”
Why had he sent me here?
“Noah has nobody else.”
“He has relatives somewhere.”
“None willing to raise him.”
“Then find someone.”
“I was hoping you might consider taking him.”
I have only a few months.
I almost stood up. “Excuse me?”
“James thought you might.”
“He never wanted to force you, Elizabeth. He only asked me to tell you the truth and let you decide.”
“And what happens if I say no?”
Margaret looked toward the staircase. “I’ll have to find someone else. Maybe…”
You might consider taking him.
“Have you even tried?”
“Yes. My sister refused. My husband’s relatives won’t return my calls.”
“So I’m your last option?”
“You’re the only person James believed might actually care about him.”
“That’s not fair. James left me six children and a mountain of bills!”
I’ll have to find someone else.
“I know.”
“My youngest still asks when Daddy’s coming home!”
“Elizabeth…”
“You ignored our family for twenty years. Now you want me to raise another child?”
“I know it’s an enormous request.”
You’re the only person.
“An enormous request is asking someone to babysit for a weekend!”
“Please lower your voice.”
“Why? Because the furniture might hear?”
Then I noticed Noah standing in the doorway.
His face had gone completely white. “I didn’t ask her to do this.”
“Noah, honey…”
It’s an enormous request.
“I’m sorry I’m another problem.”
He ran upstairs.
“That was cruel.”
I swallowed hard. “Your family created this mess. Don’t blame me because I’m the only person willing to say it.”
I stood up and walked out without another word.
I thought I’d left James’s family secrets behind. But three weeks later, his mother would turn my life upside down again.
I’m another problem.
***
