“Breaking news today as authorities have finally identified the arsonist responsible for the deadly Corporate Building fire that claimed the lives of twelve.”
My blood turns to ice in my veins. The room seems to tilt sideways as I stare at the screen, unable to look away.
“According to an anonymous tip from a private investigator, the arsonist was Margaret, who died recently after a long battle with cancer.”
My mother’s face appears on the screen, an old photo from her company ID. She looks so normal, so ordinary. Not like someone who could burn down a building with people inside. Not like a murderer.
“Margaret is survived by her three daughters,”the reporter continues, and suddenly our faces flash across the screen—recent photos pulled from social media. My photo for Tiny Paws, Carmen’s professional headshot, and Lena’s graduation picture.“Sources say the motive was insurance fraud, as she collected substantial payouts after the deaths of her mates in the company, who also perished in the fire.”
I can’t breathe. The room spins around me as I watch our family’s darkest secret broadcast to the entire city. The technician painting my toes has stopped, her eyes darting between the screen and my face.
Slowly, I turn to look at my sisters. Carmen’s face has gone completely white, her knuckles bleached from grippingthe armrests of her chair. Lena’s eyes fill with tears, her lips trembling as she stares at the TV in horror.
“Is this true?” Carmen whispers, turning to me. Her voice sounds strange, hollow. “Did Mom really...?”
The question hangs between us, heavy as lead. I can’t lie anymore. I nod, a single tear tracking down my cheek.
“You knew?” Lena gasps, her voice breaking on the words. “You knew about this?”
“She told me,” I confess, the words tumbling out now that the dam has broken. “When she was dying. She confessed everything. She said... she said she wanted me to forgive her before she died.”
“And did you?” Carmen asks, her voice tight with suppressed emotion.
I shake my head. “No. I couldn’t.”
Carmen nods once, sharply. “Good. Because I won’t either.”
Lena makes a soft, wounded sound, tears streaming down her face now. “Our dads... they didn’t just abandon us?”
“No,” I whisper. “She killed them for the insurance money. Just like the reporter said. She admitted it.”
The technicians have all moved away, giving us space as we absorb this public revelation of our family trauma. The news has moved on to another story, but the damage is done. Everyone in the room, everyone in the city, now knows what our mother did.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Carmen demands, her eyes flashing with hurt and betrayal. “All this time, you’ve known, and you said nothing?”
“I couldn’t,” I say, my voice cracking.
“We’re not children, Francine,” Carmen snaps. “We deserved to know.”
“I know,” I admit, wiping at my tears. “I know you did. I just... I couldn’t process it myself. And then when I started working for Kieran his sister told me…”
I stop abruptly, realizing I was talking too much.
“What about Kieran?” Lena asks, catching my slip. “What does he have to do with this?”
“His parents,” I whisper, the pieces clicking into place for my sisters. “They died in the fire, too. That’s why he fired me. He found out who my mother was.”
Understanding dawns on Carmen’s face, her anger giving way to sympathy. “Oh, Franny.”
“It wasn’t just that,” I continue, needing to get everything out now that I’ve started. “I... something happened between us. Before he found out. And now...”
My hand drifts unconsciously to my stomach, a gesture both Carmen and Lena catch immediately. Their eyes widen in identical expressions of shock.
“You’re pregnant,” Carmen breathes, not a question but a statement.
I nod, fresh tears spilling down my cheeks. “I just found out yesterday. After he kicked me out.”
Lena is out of her chair in an instant, wrapping her arms around me. “Oh Franny,” she murmurs against my hair. “I’m so sorry.”
