The Silent Sister

In the present, the next morning, Riley begins wiping her father’s computer after backing it up. She pauses over his emails, regretting her last impersonal message to him. She finds affectionate notes from Jeannie Lyons and a puzzling one from Celia Lind.

Christine Lyons arrives to continue preparing for the estate sale and asks Riley to help with inventory. Riley negotiates to keep some Franciscan Ware plates. Her brother Danny signals for her to join him on the porch. He insists they confront Tom Kyle about his knowledge of the two sets of footprints at Lisa’s car. Riley doesn’t trust his motives, but he insists he will go with or without her.

In August 1995, at Grady’s music store, Jade meets Celia, the granddaughter of a regular customer, Charlie. Jade and Celia feel an immediate connection. Celia invites Jade to dinner. At dinner, Jade lies about her family, while Celia shares that she is gay. Afterward, they play music together. Jade performs a difficult piece, stunning Celia with her true ability. Celia walks Jade home, they share their first kiss, and Jade asks Celia to stay the night.

In the present, Riley and Danny visit the Kyles. Danny confronts Tom about how he knew there were two sets of footprints near Lisa’s car, a fact never publicly released. Tom evades, claiming he read it somewhere, then claiming he heard it from law enforcement contacts, before ending the conversation.

After they leave, Riley realizes she left her phone and goes back alone. She overhears Verniece shouting at Tom and mentioning Harry Washington. Riley makes her presence known, and Verniece’s tone sweetens as she hands over the phone. She decides not to tell Danny what she overheard.

Jade spends Christmas 1995 in Portland with Celia and her welcoming family. She recalls receiving a cold, cautionary reply from her father after writing to him about Celia. When Celia’s mother asks about the white jade pendant, Jade lies that its symbols mean hope and happiness. A family jam session gives Jade a rare sense of belonging. Despite her love for Celia, Jade feels guilty, believing she can never reveal her past.

Verniece intercepts Riley and asks to talk privately. At a park, she says she is afraid of Tom and has a heart condition. She offers to reveal Lisa’s location if Riley transfers the RV park deed to them. Riley recognizes the extortion but agrees, deciding to honor what she believes were her father’s wishes. Verniece insists the deed must be signed before Tom says anything. Riley promises not to tell Danny, resolving to use her inheritance to learn what happened to her sister.

In early 1996, Jade, writing as Ann, begs her father for news of the family. He replies in a letter, instructing her to destroy it after reading. He writes that the family is falling apart: Her mother is withdrawn, Danny is angry, and Riley is sweet but sensitive. He mentions their tradition of going to the Sanitary Fish Market for Riley’s birthday. He then ends their correspondence permanently, warning that continued contact is too dangerous.

In the present, Riley meets with Suzanne Compton to arrange the transfer of the RV park deed to the Kyles. She lies, claiming she found a note expressing her father’s wish to give them the property. Suzanne questions the story, warns her of the park’s value and tax consequences, and asks if she is being pressured. Riley denies being under duress and presses ahead. Suzanne agrees to prepare a gift deed but is concerned when Riley asks her to omit the usual “love and affection” clause.

In March 1996, Jade travels to North Carolina. In disguise, she stakes out the Sanitary Fish Market in Morehead City and watches her family arrive for dinner. She takes a nearby table and studies how they have changed, noting the strain between her parents. Overwhelmed with pain and love, and convinced her sacrifice was right, she leaves money on the table, returns to her car, and sobs before driving away.

Late Friday, Riley brings a copy of the signed gift deed to the Kyles. When they stall, she demands the information. Tom finally says her father orchestrated Lisa’s faked death and escape. He explains that, to repay a debt to her father, he drove Lisa to a Philadelphia train station and set her up with a new identity: Ann Johnson. Riley explodes, realizing he doesn’t know Lisa’s current location and that her father was being extorted. She tears up the deed, declares the deal off, and leaves a voicemail for Suzanne to cancel the transfer.

In April 1996, Jade learns she must be fingerprinted for a teaching credential, which would expose her. A private investigator arrives at the music store and shows Grady and Charlie an old photo of Lisa, saying she is wanted for murder. They deny knowing her. After he leaves, they give Jade money and urge her to run to Celia. Jade rushes home, packs, lies to her landlady about a family emergency, and drives to Portland. At Celia’s apartment, Jade breaks down and tells her everything.