House of Secrets

Chapter Nine

After reading that letter I was not able to understand anything about my life. Let alone tell Selena her and I share a crazy mother who needs to be in jail for life. Trinity was the one person who could fill in the blanks for me. I decided to drive back home and talk with her one more time. I needed answers that only she could give me. I left a note for the family and headed on my way back home. It was a long drive back, my head kept reading the letter over and over again. I pulled up to Dawson's house hoping he could pull some strings.

"Stella, how lovely to see you," Dawson said.

"Same to your grandpa, anyways did you get my message?" I asked.

"Yes I did. I was able to pull those strings and Trinity is waiting inside for you," he said.

Entering his house was familiar to me, it gave me a sense of home, something I was comfortable with.

"Stella, I am so sorry for what happened to Amy," Trinity said.

"I am not worried about that, I read Rose's letter and I need some answers," I said.

"I thought you might one day," she said.

"I would love to get them from you," I said.

"Honey, I would love to give them to you, but everything you need answers to are in my letter to you. It explains everything that you need to know," Trinity said.

"Okay, well it is good to see you," I said.

We talked for a little bit before I had to leave. "Thanks, grandpa for letting me see her," I said before leaving.

On the drive back home I thought about the letter from Trinity, wondering if it will answer the questions I have. As I pulled into the driveway everyone was standing outside waiting for me. When I got out of the car everyone hugged, Dylan and I apologized to each other before going inside.

"How was the trip back home?" Dylan asked me.

"It was good, everyone was super helpful," I said.

"That's good, we all really missed you around here," Dylan said.

"I missed you all too. So I got told to read this letter that Trinity left inside my mom's journal for me to find," I said.

"Okay I know where to find you if I need anything," Dylan said.

Dear Stella,

There is so much I wanted to tell you. So many questions I know you want answers to, the answers that I wish I could give you. When you were four years old I got my chance to escape from the cellar that your mom kept me in. I switched with her, making sure that I was super careful not to get caught. I loved you as if you were my own child. When you turned 18 I wanted to tell you everything, but at that time you knew everything that I should have told you. I went to your grandpa Dawson for help, making sure Rose would be the one charged for kidnapping. But that was not the case. Since your mom kept me down there for four years, and I kept her down there until you turned 18 the judge could not forgive me. Carl was trying to help make sure that you were safe and did not find out until you were old enough.

Selena found out about the secret when she was 14. I made her promise not to tell you until you were ready. Please don't get mad at her or Dylan, they were doing what they thought was right. We all thought keeping this mystery of the house from you was the best thing to go about. I wanted to move you to the family hotel years ago, this way you were safer. Amy came along soon after the switch was made. I had to pretend to be my sister and hurt the one person I loved more than anything else in this world. I asked her to make sure Dylan did not tell you until we thought you were old enough to handle it. I am so sorry Stella for not being able to give you the life you wanted with your mom, but I was trying to give you the best life I could.

This does not make up for the years that were stolen from you, but I hope you know I will always love you. In the box I gave you when you were 10 it has a journal inside of it. Please read it when you see fit, but inside it tells my story of everything that happened, and why I made the choices that I did. Why we all wanted to protect you from your mom and dad. I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me and let Selena and I in your life still.

Lover Always,

Trinity

"How was the letter?" Selena asked.

"Good, Trinity told me the truth," I said.

"I know you don't know why we all kept it from you, but I am so sorry that we did Stella," Selena said.

"I know," I said.

After reading the letter I knew something was still bothering me, but it was not about the family, it was about the house. There were still more secrets hidden inside the house, secrets that I wanted to know. In order for me to find them I have to get everyone on board with helping me out. I knew I would have Trinity, Dawson and Selena, but Dylan was going to be the tricky part. Once I explained it to him, he nodded motioning lets do it. We made plans to do it right before the annual BBQ the town held every year. This way everyone would be out in the town square, no one could try to stop us if we needed to dig a little deeper.

We had four weeks to plan this out. There could be no mistakes, in and out in two days. Staying at the family hotel to dig up the secrets within the walls there. Making sure this case of secrets got covered, my mystery was hidden somewhere and I was going to uncover it. I left the girls with a baby sitter I knew I trust. The next day Selena, Dylan and I set on the drive for one last trip back home. This would be the final visit back home, so we had to make it count. Dylan made sure we have the totes, food and water. Selena made sure we had the kit we needed to solve this mystery. I made sure Dawson knew we were heading back home. We all agreed to meet at the house.

This had to be the fastest trip in and out, leaving stone unturned. Everyone got their sections, Dylan got the attic, Dawson got the basement, Selena got the backyard, and I took the cellar. It was not long after that when Selena found something buried under the tee. It was Federal paperwork, granting full custody of me to Trinity Lee Bronestone. However, somehow these papers were destroyed. Shortly after Selena found those documents, Dylan found a trunk in the attic. Inside the trunk was Rose's belongings, photos, newspaper clippings, and court paperwork. It was a trunk filled with Rose's secrets. Not only was Rose trying to hide Trinity, she was trying to hide me from the public knowledge.

Once Selena was born there was no reason to keep me around. Rose told Amy her plan to get rid of me. I could have been put into the foster care system at a young age. Dawson saved me, he finally got to the bottom of things. Just like that day Dawson was there, so when I found out Rose was going to get rid of me, I did question the reason why.

"Stella, can you come here? I found something," Dawson said.

Looking at what Dawson found made me realize there was more to the Bronestone Estates than anyone knew.

"This means there has to be a map somewhere around here to show us all the property that our family owns," I said.

"I will keep looking, Stella," Dawson said.

Rose had left clues for people to find, clues about what truly happened that night sixteen years ago.