What is Love? (49 page)

Authors: Tessa Saks

CHAPTER 39

Thirty Years Later

Peyton closed the heavy
book and sat back, trying to make sense of the story. She picked up the letter
Brandon handed her earlier and reread it.

Peyton,

If you are
reading this letter, it is because I have passed away. Every family has secrets
and yours is no different. There were events that happened between your mom and
I, events so far-fetched, no one would believe. In fact, there was a time when
your mom and I hated each other. What happened? Far too much to say in only a
few words. I’ve written this account of the entire incident, in consultation
with your mom, to provide the details that I wish I had had the courage to
share with you in person.

Unfortunately,
the truth is often hard to admit to yourself, let alone those you love. And I
do love you, so very much. Some of this will shock you, especially the details
surrounding my attempted suicide. And while it’s true that your mom drove me to
do it, know that I do not regret any of it, contrary to what others may have
said. My only regret is that up to that point, I hadn’t lived my life as I
should have, that I wasted so many years demanding perfection and was blind to
love.

Time moves
forward and while we cannot undo the past or the hurt we’ve inflicted on
others, sometimes life grants us a second chance to set things right. I was
given that chance, but not without a lot of pain and heartache along the way.
I’ve made many mistakes over the years, Peyton, and haven’t always been the
loving woman you’ve known me to be. In fact, I was a rather self-centered
woman, right up until the failure of my marriage.

That was more
than thirty years ago, and I think it’s time for you to read this account of
the unraveling so you’ll finally be able to understand the almost
incomprehensible truth. You are an important part of my legacy and this book
will explain your history, who you really are and where you came from, much
more clearly than I ever could.

Love,

Godmother Ellen
Horvath

Brandon appeared in
the doorway, waiting, as if unsure whether to enter.

“So my godmother and
my mom, they actually had all this happen? It was real?” She studied him,
seeking answers.

Brandon came in and
sat beside her. “So they say.” He gave a shrug. “I don’t know for certain. Back
then, I lived in LA and wasn’t home much. But it does make sense. Your
godmother, my mother, acted pretty strange during those months. The stories
were so crazy. Brianna believes it actually happened, she says that anything is
possible in the spirit world, that the answers to mysteries go beyond our
comprehension.”

Peyton sat still for
a few moments. “But Uncle Brandon, why didn’t Mom say anything and why would
you give this book to me now, now that’s she gone?”

“Your mom and
Godmother didn’t want you to hear about everything until after Godmother passed
away. They asked me to deliver it because I wasn’t involved in any of it.” He
laughed. “I guess I’m the only one in the whole mess who’s impartial. But regardless
of what you make of all of this, know that she wanted you to love her. That’s
what was most important to her, that you love her.”

“I do. I do love
her. I just can’t believe all of this. It such a bizarre story.”

“She wanted you to
understand the special bond she had with you, and why she left you an
inheritance.”

“But she passed away
five years ago.”

“Yes, and her will
stipulated that you wouldn’t know about any of this until you turned thirty.
You are now a very wealthy young woman.”

“This is a lot to
…
I mean, I can’t believe it.”

“Believe that your godmother
loved you very much.”

“I do. Now I
understand why. It’s funny, I never thought about why I call you Uncle Brandon
and Brianna, Aunty. I knew you weren’t blood relatives, but I never thought
about the reason for it.” Peyton hesitated. “So that’s why Godmother took care
of Mr. Horvath after his stroke, she still loved him after the switch?”

Brandon hesitated.
“No. She didn’t really love him after the switch, too much had happened. She
didn’t like who he had become. Mom was happier on her own. She was able to stop
the money transfers and keep her rightful share of the family money, so she was
free to do whatever she wanted.”

“Like start her textile
design company in Italy?”

“Yes. Dad married
again, twice in fact, but the little golddiggers were quick to take the money
and run. He wanted Mom back, but she wouldn’t even consider it; plus, by then
she had met someone.”

“My godfather?”

“Yes. They had a
great life together. As time went by, Dad got lonely and regretted how he had
treated Mom. He realized she was the one who loved him in spite of his flaws
and then after the stroke, when he couldn’t go out and find girlfriends, he
really hit the bottom. He wrote lots of letters to her, expressing all the
feelings he couldn’t before.”

“And then Godfather
died, right?”

“Yes, by that point
Dad was quite ill and Mom helped him.”

“So she did love
him, after all?”

Brandon shrugged.

“That depends,” Sam said
and appeared in the doorway. “Do we love the inside of a person or the outside?
Is it conditional or unconditional? Does it forgive?” She hesitated and smiled.
“I guess the real question is:
What is love?
”