“Maybe he wasn’t warning her.”
The possibility followed us through the wet streets of Boston.
I barely slept that night.
At six in the morning, Marcus called from the adjoining room of the hotel.
“We
found Daniel Vale.”
I sat up. “He’s alive?”
“Yes.”
The word erased the last remnants of sleep.
“Where?”
“Vermont. He’s been living under his mother’s maiden name in a small town outside Burlington. He teaches accounting at a community college.”
“Why did everyone believe he was dead?”
“Your mother told the family he died of a heart attack in Switzerland. There’s no death certificate.”Track Pregnancy
I rose and walked to the window. Dawn had spread a pale gray light over Boston.
“Can you contact him?”
“I already did. He agreed to speak with you.”
“Where?”
“He’s driving here.”
I looked at the clock.
“How long?”
“Three hours.”
I dressed quietly and met Marcus in the hotel lobby. We did not discuss the situation during the drive to Fairmont Street. There were too many possibilities and not enough facts.
When Evelyn opened the door, her expression was wary but calmer than the
night before.
“You came early.”
“I wanted to tell you something before Clara arrived.”
She stepped aside.
Julian was in the kitchen preparing breakfast while Lily and Samuel sat at the table, each surrounded by sliced fruit and pieces of toast. They looked smaller than they had in the photograph. More real.
Samuel had dark hair and a serious expression as he concentrated on spreading jam. Lily’s brown curls escaped from two uneven ribbons, and she was whispering to a stuffed rabbit propped beside her plate.
They both looked up.
Evelyn rested a hand lightly against my arm.
“This is Adrian,” she said. “He’s an old friend of mine.”
The words were careful, and I was grateful for them.
Lily looked at me. “Are you a doctor like Daddy?”Get Parenting Tips
“No.”
“Do you work?”
“I do.”
“What do you do?”
I glanced at Evelyn.
