Chapter 7 - The Man She Called Dad
Claire did not sleep.
At six in the morning, she drove to the Bennett house.
Thomas was outside bringing in the newspaper.
He smiled when he saw her.
“Two visits in one week.”
Claire held up the photograph.
His smile vanished.
“Come inside.”
“No.”
“Claire.”
“What were you doing beside Evelyn’s car?”
Thomas glanced toward the neighboring houses.
“Lower your voice.”
“That answer is already bad.”
Diane appeared in the doorway.
“What is happening?”
Claire looked at her.
“You tell me.”
She handed Diane the photograph.
Diane’s fingers tightened around it.
Thomas said, “That picture doesn’t show what you think.”
“Then explain it.”
Thomas closed his eyes.
“I was trying to help her.”
“With a wrench?”
“The driver’s door was jammed.”
Claire studied him.
That explanation was possible.
She hated that it was possible.
“Why were you there before emergency services?”
Thomas looked at Diane.
Diane answered.
“Evelyn called us.”
“After the crash?”
“Before.”
Claire waited.
Diane folded the photograph.
“She was upset.”
“About?”
“You.”
Claire’s anger rose.
“What about me?”
“She wanted to disappear.”
Thomas said quietly, “That is not fair.”
Diane ignored him.
“Evelyn was unstable after you were born.”
“She told me you caused the crash.”
Diane’s face hardened.
“She has brain damage.”
Thomas stepped between them.
“Stop.”
Claire looked at him.
“Did you know I wasn’t your daughter?”
“Of course.”
“Did you know about the trust?”
Thomas looked ashamed.
“Yes.”
“Did you know Diane wasn’t supposed to control it?”
“Yes.”
Each answer hurt more because he did not lie.
Claire whispered, “Did you ever love me?”
Thomas’s eyes filled immediately.
“Every day.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me who I was?”
“Because by the time you were old enough to understand, you were my daughter.”
“That was your excuse?”
“No.”
Thomas looked toward Diane.
“It was my cowardice.”
Diane turned on him.
“Thomas.”
“No more.”
He walked into his study.
Claire followed.
Diane came behind them.
Thomas unlocked the bottom drawer of his desk.
He removed a sealed envelope.
Diane grabbed his wrist.
“You promised.”
Thomas pulled free.
“I have broken enough promises.”
He handed the envelope to Claire.
Her name was written across it in Evelyn’s handwriting.
CLAIRE – WHEN YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO CHOOSE.
Claire opened it.
Inside was a letter dated three weeks before the accident.
Evelyn wrote that Diane had been pressuring her to surrender temporary control of Hale Holdings.
Evelyn refused.
She wrote that Thomas had warned her Diane was meeting privately with company attorneys.
Then came a line Claire read twice.
THOMAS BELIEVES DIANE IS MOVING MONEY WITHOUT MY PERMISSION.
Claire looked up.
“You knew.”
Thomas nodded.
“I tried to stop it.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
Diane laughed bitterly.
“Stop pretending you were innocent.”
Claire looked between them.
Thomas went pale.
Diane continued.
“Tell her why you were really at the crash.”
Thomas whispered, “Diane.”
“Tell her.”
Claire’s heart pounded.
Thomas sat down.
“I followed Evelyn.”
“Why?”
“Because she had discovered something.”
“What?”
Thomas looked directly at Claire.
“That you had a father.”
Claire frowned.
“Of course I had a father.”
“No.”
Thomas swallowed.
“I mean she had finally decided to tell him you existed.”
Claire stared at him.
“Who?”
Thomas looked at Diane.
Diane shook her head.
Thomas ignored her.
“Richard Mercer.”
Claire’s blood turned cold.
Mercer.
Julian’s last name.
May you like
Thomas continued.
“Julian’s father.”
