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William

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

"You’ve been more closed off than ever, William."

"I always come to see you, Grandma."

"That’s not what I mean. You don’t talk about your life anymore."

"I’ve never been one to talk about my life."

"Are you and Taylor together?"

"Yes."

She makes a displeased face, and I stand up. I come to check on her once a week and call every day. I love Maryann, maybe even more than my own mother, but not even she has the right to interfere in my relationship with Taylor.

"I’m not going to talk about this."

She nods, looking sad, but I feel no desire to share what I’m experiencing.

I kiss her forehead and leave the room, but as I descend the stairs, to my surprise, Sherie calls out to me.

I turn around. I can probably count on one hand how many times she has spoken to me directly. "Yes?"

"May I speak with you for a moment?"

"Is this about my grandmother?"

"No, it’s about . . .your mother."

"What?"

"I don’t have much to tell you, but it might be important." She keeps her eyes on the floor the entire time, reinforcing the impression I’ve always had—that she’s more like a nun than a housekeeper. Does she ever interact with men?

"Go on."

"Taylor hasn’t come here again, even after she returned. I noticed her relationship with your grandmother changed," she starts hesitantly, and my patience, already short, wears thin.

I’ve never liked Sherie, and I see no reason to waste time with idle talk. "What do you want?"

"Your father had something to do with Taylor’s disappearance, and your mother knew about it from the beginning."

"What? What the hell are you talking about?"

She finally looks up at me, her face so red I worry she might faint. "You know I used to go to your parents’ house twice a week, don’t you?"

"Yes." It was a strange arrangement, but it seemed like my grandmother’s housekeeper preferred being around my mother than Maryann.

"I overheard a conversation between them. Taylor had already disappeared, and your father was telling your mother that he wanted a divorce because he was going to marry the girl. Your mother went hysterical. She accused Taylor of seducing him, but that’s not true. I don’t have all the answers, Mr. William, but I do know it was your father who was after Taylor here at your grandmother’s house. He started coming at odd hours after she began working, and I never once saw her giving him any opening."

My mind spins like a kaleidoscope, scattered pieces mixing without making any sense. "When did you hear this conversation?"

"I don’t remember the exact day, but I know it was months after Taylor had disappeared. He met with your mother and then asked for a divorce."

"Why are you telling me this now?"

"Because I resigned yesterday. I’m leaving. Going back to my town in South Dakota."

I think she’s spoken more today than in her entire life. "That still doesn’t explain why you’re telling me this, ma’am."

"I was . . . I am in love with you. Ever since I started working here, I dreamed for years that, at some point, you’d notice me—like in a fairy tale. But when I saw you watching Taylor in the rain, I knew she was the only one for you. You might think I’m crazy, but my love is real, and seeing you happy will make me happy. I believe Taylor was caught in a web of lies. As I said before, I don’t have all the answers, but if I had to bet, it would be on her innocence."

"I don’t know what to say."

"I don’t expect you to say anything." She starts to walk away.

"Does Maryann know the truth? Did you tell her too?"

"About your parents? No. Goodbye, William."

* * *

"Why did you accuse her, Mother?"

"I was sick, William."

A few months ago, she was released from the clinic where I had her committed to treat her depression. She might not be fully recovered, but she’s going out again and has even started seeing a retired judge.

However, one thing hasn’t changed—she’s still as selfish and self-centered as ever.

"That doesn’t justify it. You knew I was looking for her."

"I didn’t know what you felt for her. I thought it was just a passing fling. You’ve had so many women . . .”

We’re sitting in the living room of her house, and as I watch the woman who gave birth to me take a sip of tea as if our conversation were trivial, I try to suppress my rage and disgust.

"You saw me searching for her long before their picture appeared in the newspapers."

"What is it about that girl that drives men crazy?"

"Don’t you dare blame her. I spoke to Sherie. She told me it was always my father pursuing Taylor. She never encouraged him."

I remember when Taylor told me my father had gone to the bar to offer her a job. She said it was just that one time. I need to talk to Jackie. She might have some answers.

"There’s a lot about your father that you don’t know, William."

"What are you talking about?"

She stays silent.

"Mother?"

"Everyone thinks he was just a womanizer, but know that there’s much more filth hidden under the rug."

"Like what, for example?"

"I’m not the one who will destroy your father’s image before your eyes. If you want the truth, find it yourself."

"Come down from the illusion you live in, Mother. There’s no image left to destroy. I despise him."

"I don’t like scandals in the family."

"Mother, this isn’t about a fucking scandal. It’s a crime. If he had anything to do with Taylor’s disappearance, I’ll make him pay."

"You wouldn’t dare go against your father publicly."

I stand up, certain that I need to leave before I say something I’ll regret. "You have no idea who I am, Mrs. Marshall. I don’t pity people. I divide them into those who deserve my respect and those I despise. Those who deserve my love and those who are irrelevant to me. Those I would die for and those I will destroy if they get in my way."

"He’s your father."

"No. If he hurt Taylor, he’s a criminal, and I’ll make sure he spends the rest of his life behind bars."

"I know he may have made mistakes, but you can’t be this ruthless, William."

I don’t answer. There’s no need. My decision is already made.

If he had anything to do with Taylor’s disappearance, he will pay.

* * *

She’s facing away from me and hasn’t noticed me yet.

This isn’t the first time I’ve watched her play for the children, but it’s the first time since we reunited that I feel unworthy of her.

Taylor has always been mine, and my stubbornness around claiming her left her unprotected. I should have put bodyguards on her from the start, preventing anyone from taking her away and stealing her life.

Because even though I don’t have solid proof yet, and many pieces of this sick game are still missing, I have no doubt—she was kidnapped.

On my way to the hospital earlier today, right after leaving my mother’s house, I called Odin.

He told me he hadn’t contacted me yet because he was still investigating, but he could already confirm that during the time Taylor was with my father on the cruise, there was never any romantic relationship between them.

His men spoke with the staff, and they all said Taylor treated him like a father.

Odin also pulled her phone records from before she disappeared—there were no messages exchanged between them.

Everything keeps confirming what I already suspected.

I was wrong. I failed her, and now I need to fight for her forgiveness.

My phone rings, and I step away from the door so as not to interrupt her performance for the children.

"Hey, William. You wanted to talk to me?" Jackie asks on the other end of the line.

"Yes. Thanks for calling back. I need to ask you something. The night Taylor disappeared, I went after her at the bar. When I got there, a blond guy with long hair told me she didn’t work there anymore."

"That must have been that asshole Todd. He was the reason Taylor got fired. Why are you asking?"

"He showed me pictures of my father and Taylor together that same night, in the parking lot of the bar."

"I don’t know why he showed those to you. Maybe he was obsessed with her. He wanted to be with Taylor, and she said no. He disrespected her, and when she reported him to our boss, she got fired because, at the time, the woman was sleeping with the jerk."

"Why would he photograph her?"

"Who knows? There are all kinds of lunatics out there. He was probably planning to blackmail her. But I’m sure that was the first time your father went to the bar looking for her. On the way home, she told me about the weird conversation they had. He offered her a job, and she turned him down. Look, I know you’re suspicious, and if I were in your shoes, I’d probably think the same, especially since Taylor doesn’t remember anything. But I’d bet everything on her innocence. I just hope you realize the truth before you lose her for good, William."