Chapter 5 - Evelyn Was Never Truly Free
An emergency independent review found Evelyn competent and repeatedly
requesting discharge from the residential facility.
Old guardianship documents and Whitmore money had kept those requests
from going anywhere.
Daniel arrived with independent counsel and a patient advocate.
Evelyn entered the meeting room slowly.
She had Daniel’s eyes.
“Daniel?”
His voice nearly failed.
“I’m here.”
Evelyn cried.
She explained that after Daniel’s birth she suffered severe postpartum
depression and voluntarily entered treatment. Charles promised she would
return home.
Instead, he used her hospitalization to separate her from Daniel.
Margaret told Evelyn that Daniel had been adopted emotionally into her
household and would be harmed if Evelyn returned.
Evelyn wrote letters.
None reached him.
Daniel felt furious at Margaret—but also at Thomas.
“You found her years ago.”
Thomas lowered his eyes.
“Yes.”
“And you still decided I shouldn’t know.”
“I thought I was protecting Sarah and Evelyn.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Everyone keeps calling control protection.”
Evelyn did not ask him to call her Mom. She simply asked about his life.
He showed her Lily’s photograph.
Evelyn smiled.
“She has your expression.”
Then Evelyn noticed Sarah’s silver pendant.
Her face changed.
“Where did you get that?”
“My father.”
Evelyn looked at Thomas.
“You never told her?”
Sarah turned sharply.
“Told me what?”
Thomas closed his eyes.
The pendant had belonged to Sarah’s mother.
Sarah had always been told her mother died shortly after childbirth.
That was another lie.
Her mother’s name was Rebecca Lane.
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And according to Evelyn, Rebecca had been alive at least eight years
earlier.
