This is Part 4 of an ongoing story. Below is a brief recap of the previous storyline. If you haven’t read the earlier parts, start here.
My family thought I was just an eccentric grandmother with a flair for drama and designer robes. But when I collapsed over breakfast and summoned them all to my bedside, I had one goal—to bring them under one roof and act like a family.
Greg, my sulking son, Veronica, his performative wife, my control-freak daughter Belinda; and my grandkids—each brought their hidden truths.
I told them it was about my will, about time running out. They didn’t know I was playing a longer game that would expose their secrets. I just never expected to be cornered by my own.
When my youngest grandson, Scooter, disappeared into the neighbor’s garden and reemerged with Harold—my first secret came to light. Over dinner, Harold announced he was Greg’s birth father and Scooter’s grandfather.
And then it turned out that Belinda had a daughter—one she gave up years ago, letting our former nanny Nina raise the child as her own. So, we had to find her.
But no one knew that Nina and I shared a past, too… My second secret. Laid bare. And that was only the beginning.
PART 4
I returned home later than expected. The house was quiet, soaked in moonlight. Even Bugsy, my judgmental cat, lay sprawled across the couch, tail twitching with vague disapproval.
But I had no time for sleep.
I went straight to the hallway closet and began rummaging through old boxes, tossing aside scarves, tangled costume jewelry, and a pair of disco shoes I swore I had thrown out decades ago.
Somewhere was my jewelry box that held scraps of truth I had hidden from everyone.
Out of the shadows, Scooter appeared.
“You looking for something, ma’am?” he whispered dramatically, holding a flashlight under his chin.
“My jewelry box. And don’t call me ma’am. You sound like a bus driver. Go to bed.”
“I’ll tell you where it is… if you take me with you tomorrow.”
“This is adult business. Very boring. You’d hate it.”
“I’m not a child,” he said, puffing his chest. “If you don’t take me, your jewelry box will remain lost forever.”
“You negotiate like a Wall Street shark.”
He grinned triumphantly and motioned me to follow him upstairs to the attic—his “detective headquarters.”
Amid the broken toys and “classified” files, Scooter unearthed the box.
I opened it. Inside, among old postcards and a pressed rose from 1972, was what I needed: a faded address scribbled on paper. There was also a photo—two little girls.
Nina and I. It was time to remind her of the childhood we both tried to forget.
***
At sunrise, I crept out quietly, hoping to leave unnoticed. But of course… there he was. Scooter.
“I packed sandwiches,” he announced proudly. “Aaand! I brushed my teeth.”
I groaned. “You’re relentless.”
He gave me that mischievous grin—the one I couldn’t say “no” to even if I wanted. And honestly, I admired the audacity. It ran in the family.
As we reached the car, another voice sliced through the early morning calm.
“I’m coming too.”
It was Belinda in her silk robe and fuzzy slippers, clutching her coat and looking like she hadn’t slept a minute.
“This concerns me too,” she said quietly.
“And what exactly do you plan to do?”
“Someone has to keep him from eating five sandwiches before we even leave the driveway,” she said, tilting her head toward Scooter.
Scooter held up the brown paper bag. “I have enough sandwiches. Perfect combo now!”
I sighed.
“Fine.”
We piled in, and I started the engine. I’d just made peace with the fact that our trip—originally meant to be a secret escape—finally became a family field trip… when fate waved at us from the roadside.
Or rather, Harold.
“Well, well,” he called out as I slowed the car, “if it isn’t the mystery crew.”
I rolled down the window, already regretting it.
“Keep walking.”
“I would,” he said, glancing at the deflated front tire, “but unless the road sprouts wings, I’m out of options.”
“I’m sure you’ll charm a passing crow into giving you a lift.”
“I’d hitchhike,” he said with a wink, “but I doubt the universe would send me a better ride than this one.”
“Please, Grandma! This is like a full cast now!”
“One more word, and I’m feeding your sandwiches to raccoons.”
Then, I sighed dramatically, unlocking the doors.
“Get in the car before I change my mind.”
Harold tipped an imaginary hat and climbed into the backseat with a satisfied laugh.
“This is officially the best mission ever!” Scooter beamed.
I glanced at the mirror at the three of them. That was supposed to be a calm, controlled visit. Instead, I was leading a full-blown circus on wheels.
And something told me… the show was just getting started.
***
An hour later, we reached Nina’s house. It stood like a forgotten chapter—quiet, untouched, draped in the same faded paint it had worn for decades.
Harold leaned forward, squinting.
“Wait a minute… This is Nina’s house.”
I stiffened.
“How do you know that?”
He shifted in his seat, uncomfortable.
“After you and I ended things, you know… I stayed nearby. I just… I couldn’t let go completely. I used to drive by, hoping to catch a glimpse of Greg. You were always gone—Europe, Brazil, who knows where—so Nina and I started spending time together.”
I shot him a look. “Time… or more?”
“We kept each other company. That’s all I’ll say.”
My jaw clenched.
“She disappeared one day. Just gone. When I finally tracked her down months later, she opened the door with a baby in her arms. Slammed it right in my face. Told me it wasn’t my concern. But I always wondered… was that baby mine?”
I took a breath. “It wasn’t. Relax.”
Harold blinked, trying to process.
“Then… whose…?”
A heavy silence. Belinda’s voice finally broke it.
“She’s mine.”
Belinda turned to me, her voice sharp with suspicion.
“Wait… how do YOU know this address?”
“Nina wasn’t just a nanny. We were raised in the same… foster home. Before I became ‘Vivi with the roses,’ I was just a girl with two dresses and a suitcase of broken dreams.”
“Mom… you never told us…”
But before anyone could respond, the front door creaked open.
A small girl peeked out. Big brown eyes. Chestnut curls. At that age, she looked so much like Belinda that it stole my breath.
“Hi,” I said gently. “Is your Mom home?”
She smiled. “She’s baking cookies. Want one?”
Cookies. The soft scent drifts toward us, warm and familiar. So casual. So normal.
And then… Nina. She stepped into view, her eyes locking onto mine.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
“Oh, I think we should,” I replied, stepping forward.
“You still can’t let go, can you?”
My voice rose, old hurt boiling to the surface.
“Let go? Like you let go of our friendship? Like you kept the truth about my daughter from me for years? Like you tried to raise her child without ever telling me?”
“I was there when your daughter needed someone. You weren’t. I raised her. I protected her. And when she had Daisy, I gave that little girl love, stability, a real home.”
“And you cut me out of all of it.”
Belinda took a hesitant step forward, eyes locked on the girl.
Daisy.
“I never wanted it to be this way,” she said quietly.
Nina’s voice softened. “You had your life. You left. I stayed.”
Before either of them could say more, Scooter spoke up, notebook open.
“Honestly? This is better than any mystery novel I’ve read this year.”
“Scooter,” I snapped. “Go to the car. Now.”
And then, right as I stepped forward, a shadow moved behind me.
“Hi, Nina. Long time no see.”
When Nina saw Harold, her face drained of color. Her knees buckled. And just like that, she collapsed.
***
The hospital was cold. We waited in silence. Scooter slept curled against me. Harold paced. Belinda sat rigid, knuckles white around her coffee cup.
Finally, the doctor emerged.
“She made it through the surgery,” he said. “But her heart is weak. The next 48 hours are critical. She’ll need a transfusion soon. Then, no stress.”
I stood up without hesitation.
“We share a blood type. Take mine.”
Minutes later, I lay beside Nina, IV running between us. Years of silence reduced to this one strange, quiet moment.
“Who’s Scooter?” she whispered.
“Greg’s son.”
Her brow furrowed.
“Greg has kids?”
“Two. Mia and Scooter.” I hesitated. “Belinda… can’t have children.”
Nina’s expression softened, pain flickering in her eyes.
“That’s why she wants Daisy.”
“She’s not trying to steal her. She just wants to be part of her life. With you.”
Nina blinked back tears. “I can’t lose her.”
“You won’t. But you need to let Belinda in.”
Then, the door burst open. Greg stormed in, Veronica right behind him.
“Where have you all been?!”
I calmly sipped my tea. “Casually donating blood, dear.”
Greg’s eyes darted to the IVs, to Nina, pale but awake.
“Mom,” he growled. “Is this another one of your insane stunts?”
“I just saved a life.”
Harold stepped forward, arms folded, looking way too pleased with himself.
“Might want to sit down, son. There’s more coming. It’s a long story.”
***
Two weeks later, the house was full of life again.
Nina had moved in with Harold, who had taken to doting on her like a lovesick teenager. Daisy bounced between her “Home Mom” and Belinda, who was slowly stepping into her new role with grace I hadn’t known she had.
Dinner was loud. Messy. Real.
Greg raised his glass.
“Mom… you’ve made this house chaotic, unpredictable, borderline insane. But I’ve never seen it so alive.”
Belinda smiled.
“This place finally feels like home.”
Scooter scribbled furiously.
“So many secrets. I’m going to need a bigger notebook.”
I laughed. Maybe I really had done something right by bringing them all under one roof. I’d uncovered my daughter’s secret. Sure, I’d had to give up two of my own in the process. But that was the price.
Now, it’s time for my son and his wife. I still remember how they whispered behind closed doors on their first night in my house. Their turn is coming.
They’d be next to show their cards. Or so I thought, sipping my favorite grapefruit juice in the soft evening light.
But my thoughts were shattered the moment a sudden knock echoed through the house. Everyone glanced at each other. We weren’t expecting anyone.
I opened the door… and nearly fainted.
No. No, not now. Not tonight.
There he stood. Bouquet in hand. Grinning like a fool. Still wrapped in that maddening, magnetic energy, he’d always carried like a storm cloud.
“Patrick,” I whispered, barely breathing.
“Vivi! I finally found you!”
Before I could block the doorway, he waltzed in, eyes darting around.
“Wow! Look at this! Big family dinner? What’s the occasion?”
The room fell silent. Greg set his fork down slowly, eyes narrowing.
“Mom. Who is this man?”
“Oh, sweetheart… this is today’s uninvited guest. Just like he was for the past ten years.”
Harold rose from his chair. “Want me to throw him out?”
“О, please. Don’t be rude. I crossed half the world to find you, Vivi. You didn’t tell them about me?”
Honestly… that was my other secret. But I had absolutely no idea how to explain it. Patrick turned to me.
“We had an arrangement. You owe me, darling.”
I sighed. “Come in. But don’t expect hospitality.”
I shut the door behind him, already mentally digging through thousands of words—trying to find just a few that could explain to my family why Patrick… was part of it too.
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If you enjoyed the fourth part of the story, read the next one: I staged a fake play with my ex to uncover my son’s secret. I thought I was running the show—until the spotlight swung toward me, and the past I’d buried walked out on stage. Read the full story here.
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