Chapter 2: The Dead Man at the Door
For three seconds, nobody moved.
Daphne stared at Leon as if she had just seen someone climb out of a grave.
Her right foot pulled backward.
Her fingers clutched the armrest.
"Leon?""
The man's expression didn't change.
"Hello, Daphne.""
Calvin stepped between them.
"Who the hell are you?""
Leon looked at him.
"You must be Calvin.""
"Answer my question.""
Leon glanced toward Daphne.
"Why don't you ask your fiancée?""
Daphne stood so quickly that her champagne-colored dress caught against the armchair.
"This is ridiculous.""
Her voice shook.
"Gloria, who is this man?""
I closed the front door.
"You know exactly who he is.""
Daphne shook her head.
"No, I don't.""
Leon let out a short breath.
"That's interesting. You recognized me before I even said your name.""
Calvin turned toward her.
"Daphne?""
She grabbed his arm.
"Baby, please. This man is dangerous. He used to stalk me.""
Leon placed the envelope under his arm.
"That's a serious accusation.""
"You disappeared!"" Daphne shouted.
Leon nodded slowly.
"Yes. I did.""
Calvin looked from one to the other.
"Somebody better explain what's happening.""
I stepped toward the center of the room.
"Her first husband is standing in our living room.""
Calvin laughed once.
Not because anything was funny.
Because he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Daphne told me her husband died in a car accident.""
Leon looked at him.
"That's what she told me too.""
Daphne's face tightened.
"Stop twisting everything!""
Leon reached into his jacket and removed a small photograph.
He held it toward Calvin.
It showed a younger Daphne standing beside Leon at what appeared to be a beach wedding reception.
They were smiling.
His arm was around her waist.
On the back, someone had written:
To my husband, Leon. Forever yours. Daphne.
Calvin took the photograph.
His eyes moved over the writing.
"Where did you get this?""
"My wedding album," Leon answered.
Daphne stepped forward.
"That picture is old!""
"Of course it is," Leon said.
"We were married nine years ago.""
Calvin looked at her.
"You said you were married for two years.""
"I was.""
"You said he died six years ago.""
Daphne opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Leon continued.
"I didn't die in a car accident. I was working in Atlanta when my truck was struck by another vehicle. I spent several weeks in the hospital. When I recovered, I discovered that my wife had emptied our joint account and disappeared.""
Daphne shook her head.
"That is not what happened.""
Leon didn't raise his voice.
"You filed a missing-person report claiming I had died.""
"I was told you were dead!""
"By whom?""
She looked away.
Calvin released her arm.
I watched his face change.
The confidence he had worn all evening was disappearing.
Leon turned toward me.
"Ms. Gloria, thank you for letting me come.""
I nodded.
"Thank you for keeping your word.""
Calvin's head snapped toward us.
"Wait. You knew about this?""
"I knew enough to ask questions.""
"You invited him here?""
"Yes.""
"To my engagement party?""
I looked at him.
"This is my house, Calvin.""
He opened his mouth, then closed it.
Daphne suddenly began crying.
Not the quiet kind of crying that comes from heartbreak.
She cried loudly, pressing both hands against her face.
"Calvin, I swear I can explain. I was young. Leon and I had problems.
He was controlling. He made my life miserable.""
Leon looked at her.
"Did I make you empty our savings account?""
Daphne didn't answer.
"Did I make you take my mother's jewelry?""
Still nothing.
"Did I make you tell my family I was dead?""
Calvin stepped forward.
"Enough!""
Leon turned toward him.
"You asked for the truth. I'm giving it to you.""
Calvin pointed at the door.
"You need to leave.""
I moved beside Leon.
"He isn't leaving.""
"Mom, stay out of this!""
I stared at my son.
"Not tonight.""
His nostrils flared.
Then his eyes dropped to the envelope.
"What's in there?""
Leon looked at me.
"Everything I found.""
I reached for the envelope.
But before Leon could give it to me, Calvin moved.
"Mom, give me that.""
I pulled my hands back.
"Why?""
"Because this is between Daphne and her ex-husband.""
Leon shook his head.
"Not anymore.""
He looked directly at Calvin.
"There's something in that envelope you need to understand.""
Calvin's face hardened.
"I don't care what you think you know.""
Leon held the envelope out.
I accepted it with both hands.
The paper felt heavier than it should have.
Calvin took another step toward me.
"Mom, give that here!""
I stepped backward.
He reached for it.
I moved it out of his grasp.
Leon didn't touch Calvin.
He simply watched me.
Then he said six words that changed the entire evening.
"The last page has your son's signature.""
My stomach tightened.
I looked at Calvin.
His expression changed instantly.
For the first time that night, he looked afraid.
Daphne stopped crying.
She looked at Calvin, waiting for him to explain.
I lowered my eyes to the envelope.
"What does my son have to do with this?""
Leon answered quietly.
"That's what I came here to show you.""
Calvin lunged forward.
"Mom! Don't open it!""
May you like
I placed my thumb beneath the flap.
And began lifting it.
