"I'm going," she said quickly. "I didn't do anything." "I'm not angry," I said. "I just want to know who you are." She looked at Lily. Then back at me. Then she said something that made the ground tilt under my feet. "My name's Wren. Your wife used to call me her best student." My wife had never mentioned a girl named Wren. Not once. But someone in my family knew exactly who she was — and had spent two years making sure I never found out.
I felt like I had been punched in the gut. My wife had kept secrets from me? It didn't make sense. We were a team, a partnership. Or so I thought. I looked at Wren, and she seemed to sense my confusion. "You didn't know, did you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Uncovering the Truth
I shook my head, trying to process this new information. "What did my wife do for you?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me. Wren hesitated, looking around nervously. "She...she helped me with my math. I was struggling in school, and she tutored me." I raised an eyebrow. "That's all?" Wren nodded, but I could tell she was hiding something.
Lily, who had been quietly observing our conversation, suddenly spoke up. "Mommy used to help me with my math too!" she exclaimed. Wren smiled, and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this girl could help my daughter heal. But as I looked at Wren, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story.
And then, just as I was about to ask another question, Wren's eyes darted to the side, and she quickly gathered her things. "I have to go," she said, her voice firm. "But I'll come back tomorrow. Okay?" And with that, she turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving me with more questions than answers.
The next day, I found myself waiting anxiously for Wren to return. I had so many questions for her, but as the hours ticked by, I began to worry that she wouldn't show up. Just as I was about to give up, I saw her walking towards us, her backpack slung over her shoulder.
A Web of Secrets
"Hey," she said, smiling at Lily. "I brought some more math problems for us to work on." Lily's face lit up, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards Wren. But as we sat down on the curb, I couldn't shake the feeling that Wren was still hiding something from me.
"Wren, can I ask you something?" I said, trying to sound casual. Wren looked up at me, her eyes guarded. "What is it?" "What did my wife leave behind for you?" I asked, my voice low. Wren's expression changed, and for a moment, I saw a flash of fear in her eyes.
"I...I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered. But I knew she was lying. I could see it in her eyes. And then, just as I was about to press her for more information, Lily spoke up. "Mommy left me a letter," she said, her voice innocent. "But I'm not allowed to read it until I'm older."
The truth was finally coming out — and there was no turning back now… (Continue to Part 3 →)
