They Left Their Son Inside the Burning Mansion

CHAPTER 5 - A House With More Than One Exit

Eleanor and Arthur were convicted the following year.

Eleanor received a long prison sentence. Arthur's cooperation reduced his sentence, but Henry refused all contact with him.

Daniel Bell was also convicted for fraud and attempted kidnapping.

Clara left her job as a maid.

With Margaret's help, she trained as a support worker for children with physical disabilities and trauma. Henry's trust paid only his necessary expenses. Clara insisted on supporting their household with her own income.

They moved into a small house with a bedroom on the ground floor.

Henry chose blue walls, low shelves, and a desk beside the window.

He also asked for two doors leading out of the house.

Clara understood why.

For months, the smell of smoke caused him to panic. He slept with the hallway light on and asked Clara to check the smoke alarms every night.

She never told him he was being unreasonable.

On the first anniversary of the fire, Margaret came for dinner.

She brought Robert's final letter.

Henry had refused to read it before.

This time, he opened it.

Robert wrote that learning the truth about Henry's birth had hurt him, but it never changed the way he felt about the child.

You were my son because I loved you, not because your name appeared beside mine on a certificate.

Henry folded the letter.

"Do I have to forgive Eleanor and Arthur?"

"No," Margaret replied.

"Do I have to call Robert my father?"

"You can call him whatever feels true."

Henry thought about it.

"He was my dad."

Clara placed a small birthday cake on the table. His birthday had passed during the investigation, and he had refused a celebration.

Now eight candles waited in front of him.

Henry stared at the flames.

Clara reached for them.

"We don't have to light them."

Henry stopped her.

"Leave them."

Margaret closed the curtains while Clara opened the back door.

Henry checked that the exit was clear.

Then he moved his wheelchair closer to the table.

"Ready?" Clara asked.

Henry took her hand.

He leaned forward and blew out all eight candles.