CHAPTER 6

Eleanor's fingers shook as she touched the leather of the journal. The name "The Ledger of Truths" made her feel a chill run down her spine. James Maxwell was a man who kept secrets and was very smart. What secrets could he have told Alexander of all people?. Why did he do it now?

She asked in a quiet voice "What is this?" and pulled the journal closer to her. It felt heavy like it had a lot of stories to tell that nobody knew about.

Alexander watched her. She could not tell what he was thinking. He said, "James left instructions that were very clear. He said to give this to you and only you, if I ever talked about Leo. He said it would explain everything."

Eleanor felt a little scared. Asked, "Explain what?"

Alexander just shook his head. "He did not say. He only said it had something that you both needed to know." He looked at her with a face. "I have not looked inside. James said it was for you to see first.. Knowing James it is not something small."

Eleanor opened the journal and the old pages smelled of musty. The first few pages were written in James's handwriting talking about normal lawyer things, like client names and dates.. As she kept reading she saw that someone else had written in the journal too. The writing was messy and fast like the person was in a hurry.

She read the part written by the other person and her eyes got wide. It was like an entry from a long time ago when she was still married to Alexander. It said, "He does not see what is happening, he is too busy.. She sees him really sees him.. He will hurt her. I have to do something to protect her from myself."

Eleanor's breath stopped. This was not a journal; it was like a story about her life.. The "he" and "she" were clearly Alexander and her. James had been watching them. Writing about their marriage problems. But the words "he needs to feel what it's like to lose everything" were very scary. What was James planning?

Alexander saw that she was upset. Leaned forward. "Eleanor, what is wrong?"

She did not answer him, just kept reading. She saw dates and events from her past with Alexander. They were written from someone else's point of view. James. He thought Alexander was getting too caught up in his goals and she was slowly getting hurt.. Then there were other entries that were darker and harder to understand.

One entry said, "The plan is ready. It is a little risky. It has to be done. For her, for the baby. We need to make sure she is safe."

Eleanor whispered, "The baby?". Felt a cold wave wash over her. She looked up at Alexander and her face was pale. "James knew. He knew I was pregnant."

Alexander's eyes got dark. "That is not possible. He never told me."

Eleanor pointed to the page. "He wrote it here.. He talks about a plan to protect me and the baby from you." She kept reading looking for answers.

The next entry was written by James. It said, "She did not tell him. That is good. Now she has time to be happy.. He needs to understand what he did wrong. He needs to feel loss, not just lose money. This is his chance to learn."

Eleanor felt like all the blood was leaving her face. "Alexander made this happen Alexander. He knew everything. He kept it from you. He made all of this happen."

Alexander took the journal from her. His eyes were blazing with anger. His face was usually calm. Now it was twisted with shock, horror and fury. "He wanted me to lose you. To lose my son. He let me live without knowing for five years? What kind of person does that?"

He stopped talking. I looked at another entry written just a few weeks before James died. It was hard to read. It said, "The last piece. Alexander needs to find the truth himself. Not from me. He needs to earn it.. Eleanor needs to choose what she wants freely. Then can they really heal.. The last secret is, in the old safe deposit box. The one only she knew about."

Eleanor. Her mind was spinning. The old safe deposit box? The one they opened together when they got married? What secret was James talking about?. Why was it the last secret?

Alexander slammed the journal shut and the sound was loud. His eyes were burning with anger. He looked at Eleanor. "The key, " he said in a low voice. "What is James talking about Eleanor? What secret did he hide?"

Eleanor was scared of Alexander's intensity but she was also very scared of what she had just learned. James had not just been watching; he had been making things happen.. Now with the mention of a last secret and a safe deposit box she felt a cold dread. What other surprise was waiting for them ready to ruin the peace they had just started to find?