When he saw Daniel, he stood.
“You look like your father.”
Daniel stopped.
“People used to say that.”
Thomas smiled sadly.
“He would have been proud of you.”
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“You knew him well?”
“Well enough.”
“Then tell me why I’m here.”
Thomas motioned toward a chair.
“Sit.”
Daniel remained standing.
Thomas nodded.
“Fair enough.”
He opened a folder.
Inside were several old documents.
Daniel recognized his father’s handwriting immediately.
His heart began pounding.
“What is that?”
“Your father kept records.”
“Of what?”
“Everything.”
Thomas pushed the folder toward him.
“Your father wasn’t just the man you thought he was.”
The Second Secret
Daniel stared at the documents.
There were receipts.
Letters.
Names.
Dates.
Notes.
Some were written by his father.
Others appeared to have been written by Margaret.
Daniel looked up.
“What is all this?”
Thomas sighed.
“Your father knew Margaret.”
Daniel’s eyes widened.
“What?”
“Not personally at first. But he knew who she was.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
Thomas nodded.
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t he ever tell me?”
“Because he didn’t want you to feel indebted to anyone.”
Daniel stared at him.
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“It will.”
Thomas opened another document.
“Your father’s illness became worse than you knew.”
Their Unusual Marriage Surprised Everyone But What Happened 10 Days Later Was Even More Unexpected
“I knew he was sick.”
“You knew the version your mother could bear to tell you.”
Daniel’s face tightened.
“What are you saying?”
Thomas looked at him.
“Your father was facing financial problems long before his illness became severe.”
Daniel slowly sat down.
“Why?”
“He had borrowed money to keep his business alive.”
“What business?”
“He ran a small repair shop.”
Daniel knew that.
His father had repaired appliances and machinery.
But Thomas continued.
“The shop was failing.”
Daniel looked at the documents again.
“And Margaret helped?”
“Not directly.”
Thomas paused.
“Your father asked the community organization for help.”
Daniel’s voice became quiet.
“And Margaret approved it?”
“No.”
“She did?”
“No.”
Thomas shook his head.
“She didn’t know he had applied.”
Daniel frowned.
“Then what are you telling me?”
Thomas leaned back.
“Your father refused the assistance.”
The Man Daniel Thought He Knew
Daniel stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because he was proud.”
“That sounds like him.”
“He didn’t want charity.”
“He wasn’t the kind of man who asked for help.”
“Exactly.”
Thomas smiled faintly.
“But someone convinced him that accepting help wasn’t weakness.”
