Chapter 2: The Woman in the Photograph
Daniel didn't answer.
The phone rang again.
Then again.
Lily watched the screen from his arms.
“Is that Eleanor?””
Daniel silenced the call.
“Yes.””
“Why is she calling you?””
“I don't know.””
“Then call her back.””
“Not now.””
I stepped closer.
“Now.””
Daniel shook his head.
“Claire, please.””
“No. You don't get to say please after hiding our daughter's future from me.””
He looked down at Lily.
“Let's get her upstairs.””
“I'll take her.””
Lily reached for me.
Daniel carefully handed her over.
She wrapped herself around my waist.
I carried her toward the stairs.
Behind me, Daniel said, “Claire.””
I stopped.
“I'm going to fix this.””
I turned.
“You should have thought about that before you paid someone twelve thousand dollars.””
Then I took Lily upstairs.
I didn't sleep that night.
Neither did Daniel.
At two in the morning, I found him sitting alone in the kitchen with the St. Aldwyn's folder open in front of him.
The house was dark except for the pendant light above the island.
He looked exhausted.
“Where is Lily?”” he asked.
“Asleep.””
“Is she okay?””
“She asked if she was going to wake up at school.””
His face crumpled.
“I never wanted her to be afraid.””
“But she is.””
He pushed the folder away.
“I made a mistake.””
“That doesn't explain it.””
He stared at the marble countertop.
“I thought if she stayed here, she would become a target.””
“For what?””
He looked up.
“For something I couldn't protect her from.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Before he could answer, his phone buzzed.
A text.
He read it.
His face changed.
“Who is it?””
He locked the screen.
“Eleanor.””
“What does she want?””
“Nothing.””
“Daniel.””
He stood.
“I'm going to bed.””
I blocked his path.
“No.””
“Claire.””
“You owe me the truth.””
“I'll tell you tomorrow.””
“You've had three months.””
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then he whispered, “There are things about my family you don't know.””
I felt a chill move down my arms.
“Then tell me.””
“I can't tonight.””
“Why?””
“Because if I tell you, you might take Lily and leave.””
I stared at him.
“Maybe that's exactly what I should do.””
He flinched.
I walked past him.
The next morning, I drove Lily to school myself.
She barely spoke.
At the drop-off line, she held my hand through the entire walk to the classroom.
“Mommy?””
“Yes?””
“Am I bad?””
I stopped.
“No.””
“Then why does Aunt Celia say I'm a problem?””
I crouched in front of her.
“Because sometimes grown-ups say things they shouldn't.””
“Are you mad at Daddy?””
I hesitated.
“A little.””
“Is he mad at me?””
“No.””
She looked at the school doors.
“Do I have to go to St. Aldwyn's?””
“No.””
She studied my face.
“You promise?””
“I promise.””
She hugged me.
Then she whispered into my ear.
“Daddy promised me too.””
I closed my eyes.
“I know.””
But when I returned home, I discovered that Daniel's promise was already being challenged.
A black SUV was parked outside.
A woman stood beside it.
She was in her early fifties, elegant, with silver-blond hair pulled into a neat knot.
I recognized her immediately.
Not because I'd met her.
Because I had seen her before.
In a photograph.
The picture had been in Daniel's grandfather's study for years.
A younger Daniel stood beside his father.
And beside them was this woman.
Eleanor.
She smiled when she saw me.
“You must be Claire.””
I didn't answer.
“You have Daniel's eyes,” she said.
“Who are you?””
“Someone who has known Daniel since he was a boy.””
“You called him last night.””
“Yes.””
“What do you want?””
Her smile disappeared.
“To make sure your daughter is safe.””
My heart began pounding.
“From what?””
Eleanor looked toward the house.
“From the same people who are trying to convince you that sending her away is the problem.””
I stared at her.
“What people?””
She stepped closer.
“Celia told you the boarding school was her idea.””
“She said Daniel asked her to handle it.””
“That isn't what happened.””
My stomach tightened.
“What are you saying?””
Eleanor glanced toward the front windows.
Then she lowered her voice.
“Daniel didn't choose St. Aldwyn's because Lily was difficult.””
“Then why?””
“Because someone threatened to expose what happened to his father.””
I felt the blood drain from my face.
“What happened to his father?””
Eleanor looked directly at me.
“He died believing Daniel had betrayed him.””
Before I could ask another question, the front door opened.
Daniel stood there.
He looked at Eleanor.
Then at me.
May you like
And he said only three words.
“You found her.””
