Truth Be Told (The Alvarez Duology Book 1)

Chapter 6: Horrid Truths (Part 1)

The day after her debut, Beatrice started seeing the black butterfly. 

She would see it in the gardens when she would stroll around with Papa. She would see it outside her bedroom window. She would also see it when she was not inside the house. It gave her a slight but imperceptible ominous feeling that she couldn't get rid of.

Three days after her debut, the letter arrived. 

When Papa brought it in to show the whole family, he came into the drawing-room with a smile. But Beatrice still felt her stomach churn. 

"Darling, what is it?" Mama asked when she saw the envelope in his hands. 

"It's from my parents," Papa replied. "They've written to us."

"What does the letter say?" Victor chimed in. 

Papa read the letter out loud: 

Crisanto,

Your father and I were hoping to see you, Isabela, and the children here in the Philippines soon. We've just received word that John and Maybel will be coming over from France, and we were wondering if you could also come so that it could be a family reunion. Please let us know. We miss all of you. 

Love,

Ma

Beatrice smiled. "Uncle John and Maybel will be in the Philippines? We must go then!"

"I believe we will," Mama agreed. 

She looked at Papa with a worry that Beatrice couldn't ignore. And though Beatrice's spirits soared at the thought of seeing her uncle and little cousin once more, the sinking feeling in her stomach only grew more intense. She only hoped that she didn't grimace in front of her family. When she glanced out the window once more, the black butterfly was still there. She just smiled and avoided looking at the window. Uncle John and Maybel were coming to the Philippines, and they were all going to reunite soon. 

That night, Beatrice felt a little restless. Sleep felt so unreachable. The only cure she could think of at the moment was a glass of warm milk, so she crept out of her bed, threw on a robe, and went out of her bedroom. 

She crept quietly as she got closer to Mama and Papa's room, but when she was close to their door, all that could be heard were Mama's and Papa's voices.

"Why didn't you tell them, darling?" Mama asked, the concern in her voice undeniable..

"I couldn't bear to," Papa reasoned. "How could I tell Victor and Beatrice that their grandfather is dying?"

Dying?

Dying?

The sinking feeling that Beatrice has had all day returned- this time so much more intense. Remembering that she hadn't taken Aunt Clara's ring off, she looked down, and the gem turned blue. Tears began to sting her eyes. Lolo was dying? 

"It's why they wrote asking us to come back to the Philippines," Mama concluded. "And it's why John and Maybel will be coming from France. Your father knows he's dying and wants to see his grandchildren one last time." 

"I didn't want to worry them, Isabela," Papa assured her. "But I do want them to spend time with their grandparents."

"What about their finances? Did they talk to you about that?"

"Not in great detail. I'm sure we'll discuss it when we're there already. We won't leave too hastily. We can leave in four weeks, perhaps." 

"Four weeks?" Beatrice whispered to herself. 

She was about to run off, when she suddenly tripped and fell down. 

"What was that?" Mama muttered.

Mama opened the door to find Beatrice sprawled out on the floor. "Beatrice? What are you- were you eavesdropping?"

"I'm sorry Mama," Beatrice said sheepishly as she stood up from the floor. "I couldn't sleep. I was on my way to the kitchen for some warm milk or maybe some of Mrs. Grant's remedies. I passed by and I overheard everything." 

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, anak," Papa said. "I didn't-"

"It's alright Papa," Beatrice interrupted. "You didn't want to worry us. Will lolo be okay? Will we make it to him in time?" 

"We will all be together again," Mama affirmed. "That I am certain of. You'll see Maybel and Uncle John again, and we can finally eat some Filipino food." 

Beatrice smiled weakly. "I'd like that very much." 

***

Beatrice found the other letter in the in a copy of The Mysteries of Udolpho by Anne Radcliffe. She knew what Mama might have felt about young ladies reading books like this, but She had stashed it away where it would blend in with the rest of Papa's books. Beatrice had waited for a long time to read this book, so she eagerly took it out of the shelf. She had plans to read it privately, where Mama wouldn't find out. 

When she opened the book, the envelope fell out. Beatrice saw Papa's name on it but saw that it had already been opened. She looked inside and saw the letter, folded in against the way it was originally folded.

It read:

Crisanto,

Your father and I write to you with some unpleasant news. Someone had scammed us out of a great sum of money. They guised it as business investment, but after some time, we saw no return of investment at all. They disappeared and it's now too late. We're writing to you to advise you to be careful of anyone proposing business ventures. Please do not make the same mistakes we made. 

Your father's condition is getting worse. We don't know how much longer he might have left. We've consulted with many doctors in the area, and they have been telling us to prepare for the worst. I'd hate to ask this, my son, but could you bring Isabela and your children over? I know going to the Philippines all the way from London would be quite a journey for all of you. I've asked John and Maybel to come from France, and they've agreed. 

Please write to us as soon as soon as you've made your decision. And please do not worry Isabela and the children so much. It's best not to tell them that your father is ill. 

All my love,

Ma

Beatrice once more felt the sinking feeling that plagued her yesterday. Just how much was Papa and Mama keeping from them. She did her best not to look out of the window. She just stared at the letter until Victor came in and found her there, still frozen in shock. 

"Bea? What's wrong?" 

Beatrice took in a deep breath. "Victor, there's something I have to tell you."

"What is it?"

"Lolo is sick and he and lola were cheated out of a large sum of money," Beatrice explained.

She handed Victor the letter and watched as he scanned over the words for himself.

"Where did you find this?" he asked.

"Inside the book," Beatrice replied as she showed him the volume in her hands. "Victor, I don't think this is the only letter they've hidden from us."

Victor scowled. "Let's look inside more of these books. There must be something."

The siblings began to take out books from their shelves and flipped through the pages in case something was stashed in between them. They checked book after book and page after page.

Inside the fortieth book, Victor pulled out another letter with Papa's name on it.

"I think I found another."