Chapter 7 - RICHARD COMES WITH FLOWERS
Richard returned the next morning.
He brought white roses.
Claire had once told him she hated white roses.
He never remembered.
Security stopped him again.
This time Claire allowed him inside.
Naomi remained near the door.
Eleanor stayed outside.
Claire wanted this conversation to belong to her.
Richard entered wearing the expression he used during difficult business meetings.
Measured.
Concerned.
Almost sincere.
“Claire.”
“Sit.”
He did.
His eyes moved toward her stomach.
“How’s the baby?”
“Fine.”
“Thank God.”
“Why did you photograph my bracelet?”
Richard looked down.
“I was curious.”
“Why did your mother recognize it?”
He blinked.
“Who told you that?”
Claire knew immediately.
It was true.
“Answer me.”
“My mother knows old Chicago families.”
“She recognized the style.”
“So you investigated me.”
“I investigated the bracelet.”
“Without telling me.”
“I didn’t want to scare you.”
Claire stared at him.
“You threw me out of a hotel.”
“I panicked.”
“About what?”
Richard leaned forward.
“Claire, you don’t understand what this means.”
“Then explain it.”
“If you’re really Eleanor Crawford’s daughter, people will come after you.”
“They already did.”
His face tightened.
“I’m trying to protect our family.”
“You mean our money.”
“Our money?”
Richard repeated.
“There it is.”
Claire almost smiled.
“What?”
“The reason you’re letting Eleanor poison you against me.”
Naomi shifted near the door.
Claire raised one hand.
She wanted Richard to continue.
“You think you’re rich now.”
He said it quietly.
“You think you don’t need anyone.”
“I needed you yesterday.”
Richard looked away.
“You needed me when your cards were canceled.”
“You needed me when the hotel manager ordered you out.”
“You needed me when you were on your knees picking clothes off the floor.”
Claire’s voice hardened.
“You stood there.”
Richard stood.
“I made a mistake.”
“No.”
“You made a choice.”
He moved closer.
“I’m your husband.”
“For now.”
“You can’t just erase four years.”
“I’m not erasing them.”
“I’m finally reading them correctly.”
Richard’s jaw flexed.
“Vanessa talked to you.”
“Yes.”
“She’s lying.”
“About sleeping with you?”
Silence.
“About my necklace?”
Silence.
“About the financial transfers?”
Richard’s face changed.
Claire saw it.
Not guilt.
Calculation.
He was deciding how much she knew.
That frightened her more than anger would have.
He lowered his voice.
“You need to be careful.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It’s advice.”
“From the man who tried to trick me into signing property transfers?”
Richard froze.
Naomi stepped forward.
“We have copies.”
Richard looked at her.
Then back at Claire.
“You have no idea what Eleanor has done to people.”
Claire’s expression remained flat.
“And you have no idea what I’m going to do to protect my daughter.”
Richard’s eyes flickered.
Something ugly appeared.
“Your daughter is also mine.”
Claire felt a chill.
“That sounded like a warning.”
“It’s a fact.”
He picked up the roses.
Then he placed them beside the bed.
“You’ll calm down.”
“You’ll realize family matters.”
Claire looked at him.
“Then why did you destroy ours?”
Richard stopped at the door.
For one second, she thought he might answer honestly.
Instead he said.
“You should ask Eleanor what happened to your father.”
Claire went still.
“What?”
Richard opened the door.
“Ask her why she never talks about him.”
Then he left.
Eleanor entered seconds later.
Claire looked at her mother.
“Who was my father?”
Eleanor’s face collapsed.
Not with guilt.
With pain.
“William Crawford.”
“Your husband?”
“Yes.”
“Where is he?”
Eleanor looked toward the window.
“He died eleven years after you disappeared.”
“How?”
“A car accident.”
Claire watched her carefully.
“Richard thinks there’s something you’re not telling me.”
Eleanor’s hands began trembling.
“There is.”
Claire’s heart sank.
Eleanor sat beside her.
“The police said your father’s death was an accident.”
“But William had spent the last month of his life investigating your disappearance again.”
Claire swallowed.
“And the night before he died, he called me.”
“What did he say?”
May you like
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“He said he knew who had taken you.”
