Chapter 16 - CAMILA'S MEMORY RETURNS|
Camila was sitting by the window when Nora showed her the message.
The old woman studied the photograph.
Then she looked at Nora.
“Lena.”
Nora sat beside her.
“You remember my mother?”
Camila nodded slowly.
“She was a good girl.”
“What happened to her?”
Camila's eyes filled with tears.
“Your grandfather wanted her gone.”
Vincent entered the room.
“Ma, what do you remember?”
Camila closed her eyes.
“Arthur was angry. Dominic wanted to leave. Lena had the papers.”
“What papers?”
“The trust.”
Vincent crouched in front of her.
“Who killed Lena?”
Camila shook her head.
“No. No killing. They told everyone she was dead.”
“Who told everyone?”
“Arthur.”
Vincent looked at Nora.
Camila continued.
“He made me sign something. He said it was for the family. I didn't understand.”
“What did you sign?”
“A statement saying Lena had died.”
Nora felt sick.
“Why?”
Camila reached for her hand.
“I was afraid.”
Vincent looked at his mother.
“Did you know Lena was alive?”
Camila nodded.
“I saw her once. At the station.”
“When?”
“Long ago. She was holding a little girl.”
Nora's eyes filled.
“Was it me?”
Camila nodded.
“She gave me something.”
“What?”
Camila struggled to remember.
Then she pointed toward an old music box on the shelf.
“Inside.”
Vincent opened it.
A small folded paper lay beneath the velvet lining.
It was a letter from Lena.
She had written that she was leaving New York to protect Nora and that she would return when it was safe.
The letter had never been delivered.
On the back was a second message in Camila's handwriting.
Arthur knows. Dominic knows. The truth must stay hidden until the child is old enough to choose.
Vincent stared at the words.
“Ma, why didn't you tell me?”
Camila looked confused.
“Because you were little.”
He swallowed.
“I wasn't little.”
She touched his cheek.
“You were my little boy.”
For a moment, the room was quiet.
Then Camila began humming the old swing song Nora had played weeks earlier.
Vincent smiled sadly.
Nora took her hands.
“Would you like to dance?”
Camila nodded.
They moved slowly beside the window.
Vincent watched them, and the weight in his chest loosened.
Then Paulie entered.
“Boss, we found Dominic.”
“Where?”
“Chicago. He has been communicating with Beatrice.”
Vincent's expression hardened.
“Bring him here.”
May you like
Paulie hesitated.
“He says he'll only come if Nora agrees to meet him alone.”
