fact shattered every assumption I had held about myself.
She lived under another name in a long-term care facility outside Richmond.
Margaret had found her only four years earlier.
Rose had spent decades drifting between shelters, psychiatric hospitals, and temporary housing.
But according to Evelyn, she had recently become lucid enough to talk about the past.
I called Margaret.
She answered immediately.
“Carly.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Silence.
“You knew who I was.”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Before you ever cleaned my house.”
The betrayal hit harder hearing it from her.
“You hired me because of that flyer?”
“No.”
“You just happened to find it?”
“I knew your name.”
I gripped the phone.
“You watched me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Harold asked me to.”
I froze.
“Your husband?”
Before Margaret could explain, I heard someone in the background.
A nurse.
Margaret sounded tired.
“Carly, I am sorry.”
“That is not enough.”
“
