Chapter 8 - THE WOMAN WAITING OUTSIDE THE CHURCHThe clue led them to St. Anne's Church.
The same church where Sarah had been found.
It was nearly midnight when Sarah arrived.
Margaret stood beside her.
David stood behind them.
Nobody spoke.
The church doors opened.
An elderly woman stepped outside.
Her hair was streaked with gray.
She looked exhausted.
But her eyes were unmistakable.
Sarah stared.
The woman stared back.
Neither moved.
Then the woman whispered:
“Sarah?”
Sarah's knees nearly collapsed.
“Mom?”
Catherine covered her mouth.
For several seconds, mother and daughter simply stared at each other.
Then Sarah ran.
Catherine caught her.
They fell into each other's arms.
“I thought you were dead,” Sarah sobbed.
“I thought you were dead.”
“I waited for you.”
“I searched for you.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No.”
Catherine held her tighter.
“This was never your fault.”
Margaret stood several feet away, crying.
Catherine looked at her.
“Margaret.”
Margaret nodded.
“You remember me?”
“I never forgot you.”
Catherine walked toward her.
“You raised my daughter.”
Margaret shook her head.
“She raised me too.”
Catherine embraced her.
“I can never repay you.”
“You don't have to.”
Then Catherine pulled away.
“There is something you must know.”
Sarah looked at her.
“What?”
Catherine's expression became serious.
“Your father isn't Richard.”
Sarah froze.
“What?”
Catherine looked toward David.
“Richard was my brother.”
Sarah's voice trembled.
“Then who is my father?”
Catherine took a breath.
“His name is Thomas Monroe.”
Sarah stared.
“Monroe?”
“Yes.”
“The name on my identity?”
Catherine nodded.
“Richard didn't choose your surname randomly.”
David frowned.
“Why?”
Catherine looked at Sarah.
“Because Thomas was Richard's greatest enemy.”
Sarah felt a chill.
“Why?”
“Because Thomas discovered the Whitmore family's fraud.”
Catherine continued:
“He was going to expose them.”
Sarah understood.
“My father was murdered.”
Catherine's eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.”
“And Richard covered it up.”
“Yes.”
Margaret whispered:
“Why didn't you go to the police?”
Catherine looked down.
“Because Richard threatened to kill Sarah.”
Sarah closed her eyes.
The truth was finally coming together.
Her entire childhood.
Her mother's disappearance.
Her father's death.
The Whitmore fortune.
The perfect family image.
All built on lies.
But Catherine wasn't finished.
“There is one last thing.”
She took a folded document from her coat.
“Your father left you an inheritance.”
Sarah stared.
“I have an inheritance?”
May you like
Catherine nodded.
“And it is worth far more than the Whitmore fortune.”
