Chapter 3 — Margaret’s Life Before Daniel
Daniel’s mother had always described herself as painfully shy.
She worked as a librarian for thirty-six years.
She rarely attended parties.
She disliked being photographed.
And whenever Daniel asked whether she ever performed in school, she laughed.
“You couldn’t drag me onto a stage.”
Yet the photograph clearly showed Margaret beneath stage lights.
Smiling.
Confident.
Holding a theater award.
Daniel began looking through the programs.
WESTFIELD PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS: THE SUMMER WINDOW.
Cast list:
Evelyn Shaw — Anna.
Margaret Reed — Clara.
Another program.
Another production.
Margaret again.
Five plays in two years.
“Why would she hide this?” Daniel asked.
Vanessa shook her head.
“She didn’t explain everything.”
Margaret had visited Vanessa privately while Daniel was away on a business trip.
She brought the case.
Then said:
“If Evelyn Shaw ever contacts Daniel, give him this before he decides what kind of person she is.”
Vanessa thought Margaret was confused.
Her health was declining.
But Margaret repeated the instruction twice.
“Why didn’t you tell me after she died?”
“Because she specifically told me not to.”
Daniel stared at her.
“And you agreed?”
Vanessa looked uncomfortable.
“She said it involved something that belonged to Evelyn, not me.”
Daniel looked toward the cassette tapes.
One was labeled:
THE SUMMER WINDOW — FINAL REHEARSAL — 1978.
Another:
MARGARET + EVELYN — AFTER CLOSING NIGHT.
Then the doorbell rang.
Vanessa’s face changed.
“That’s why I had the case out today.”
Daniel looked toward her.
“Why?”
She whispered:
“Because Evelyn contacted me yesterday.”