Chapter 3
I took Clara and Mia out of the ballroom.
The wedding stayed behind.
So did the flowers.
The cake.
Two hundred guests.
Nothing mattered.
My private hotel suite became a nursery in twenty minutes.
Milk.
Food.
Clean clothes.
Doctor.
Clara ate like someone afraid the plate might disappear.
I noticed.
So did Catherine.
“Slow down, sweetheart.”
Clara immediately stopped chewing.
Her little hands went into her lap.
“Sorry.”
My chest tightened.
Catherine looked sick.
“You don't have to stop.”
Clara stared.
“Victoria says girls who ask twice don't eat.”
Silence.
I looked at Catherine.
She closed her eyes.
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
I stared.
“Victoria saw them yesterday?”
Clara nodded.
Another lie exposed.
“She knew they were coming.”
My sister whispered:
“Yes.”
I turned.
“You knew that too.”
“No.”
“Catherine.”
She started crying.
“I knew Victoria found Elena.”
My jaw tightened.
“When?”
“Six months ago.”
Mia was eight months old.
Interesting.
“What did Elena want?”
“To speak to you.”
“Why didn't she?”
Catherine said nothing.
I stared.
“Why?”
“Victoria said Elena was extorting you.”
I laughed once.
Bitter.
“And you believed her.”
“I wanted to.”
That answer hurt because it was honest.
I looked at Clara.
She had hidden half a bread roll under her napkin.
I crouched.
“You can keep it.”
Her eyes widened.
“For later?”
“Yes.”
“No bad?”
“No.”
She smiled faintly.
Four years old.
Already storing food.
I looked at Catherine again.
“What did Victoria do when she found Elena?”
“She went with Richard.”
“Where?”
“Outside Baltimore.”
Clara whispered:
“Blue house.”
Catherine looked at her.
The child continued.
“Mommy cried after.”
I felt my chest tighten.
“What happened?”
Clara hesitated.
“Victoria said Daddy has new family.”
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
“She told Mommy I didn't want Clara?”
Clara nodded.
“And?”
“Grandpa Richard said you knew.”
Silence.
I stood.
Catherine whispered:
“Adrian.”
“No.”
I looked at her.
“They used my name.”
“Yes.”
“To keep my daughter away.”
“Yes.”
“And you let them.”
Catherine cried harder.
“I thought I was protecting the family.”
I almost laughed.
Every betrayal eventually uses that sentence.
Then Mia started crying.
Clara immediately picked her up.
Too quickly.
Too expertly.
“Shh.”
I watched.
“Who usually takes care of Mia?”
Clara looked confused.
“Me.”
My chest tightened.
“Not Mommy?”
“Mommy sick.”
“Any adult?”
She shook her head.
“Mrs. Bell sometimes.”
“Who's Mrs. Bell?”
“Neighbor.”
I looked at Catherine.
“No father?”
She shook her head.
Then Clara reached into her dress pocket.
One more folded note.
Not sealed.
She handed it to me.
“Mommy said this one after first one.”
I opened it.
Adrian,
If Richard tells you Mia's father abandoned us, do not believe him.
Mia's father did not leave.
Richard made sure he could not come back.
I looked at Catherine.
“This is bigger than Clara.”
She stared.
May you like
“Yes.”
And somewhere between one hidden daughter and one unrelated baby, the Ashfords had built a second secret.
