TWENTY-EIGHT

As soon as he entered the hotel, Luke turned toward the raised voices and picked up on the agitation in Claire’s voice immediately. He quickly stepped past the bellman’s desk. Everyone in the lobby craned their necks toward the two women near the fireplace. He was sure causing a scene was the last thing Claire would want, so whatever had happened had to be extreme.

Claire and the other young woman both had their hands balled into fists at their sides as they watched Harry Dellamare lead his wife into the elevator. The woman with Claire looked out of place with her faded jeans and tennis shoes under the gleaming crystal chandelier. Her dull hair was poorly dyed.

Claire bent down to retrieve a silver basket on the floor and put it on the table. She turned and saw him, and her gaze latched on to him as if he were her lifeline. “Luke.”

She looked so beautiful and fresh in her pink sundress that he never would have guessed there was a problem if not for the circles under her eyes. She held out her hand, and he moved to take it. Her fingers were cold and shaking. “What’s wrong?”

He knew she’d be upset from the revelations last night, but from her demeanor, he suspected something else had happened. Maybe the DNA had come back with incontrovertible truth. She drew closer as if to take strength from his presence. No one seemed to be eager to answer his question. The other young woman was biting her lip and shifting from foot to foot, but her defiant expression never changed. She couldn’t seem to look away from Claire either.

He pressed Claire’s hand with as much comfort as he could muster and waited for someone to answer him. “Do you need to sit down? You’re pale.”

She nodded, and dodging decorative balls, he led her to the tan sofa by the fireplace. The other woman hadn’t moved from her spot. If she kept twisting that lock of hair, she was going to pull it right out of her head. She slowly followed and sank onto a chair opposite the sofa.

“Tell me,” he said once Claire was seated.

She licked her lips. “So much has happened that I don’t know where to begin. Someone broke into my room last night and tried to smother me.”

“What? Did he hurt you?” What if he’d come here this morning to flashing lights and a coroner carrying her out? “Did they catch him?”

She shook her head. “But he took the painting I did of the man I saw kill Jenny. And my notes of everything I remembered.”

“Did you call the sheriff?”

“Yes, he’s come and gone. Then there was this news about Kate this morning.”

“What news?”

She didn’t answer Luke, but the shaking in her hands eased as she looked across at Kate. “You’re really a Dellamare, Kate, not me. That’s going to take awhile for me to absorb.”

What was Claire talking about? Luke took a moment to study Kate. She didn’t look well with her sallow skin and the dark circles under her eyes. “I don’t understand.”

“This is Kate Mason. Kate is D-Dad’s daughter. A secret family we knew nothing about. She informed us all this morning.” Claire gestured at the balls around the room. “Mom threw stuff at him when she found out.” Claire bit down on her trembling lower lip.

Kate finally quit twisting her hair. Her hands dropped to her lap. “I’m sorry, but I was desperate.” She tipped her chin up. “And I think maybe you’re all playing me. You just don’t want to help me.”

Claire straightened and pulled her hand away from Luke’s. “What did you mean you’re sick? If you need a kidney or something, I’m not going to be a match. I have no idea who I am, but it’s clear I’m not a Dellamare.” She bent down and picked up two decorative balls on the floor around her feet. They clattered as she put them back in the silver basket on the table.

Kate choked back a sob. “You are my sister. I don’t know what kind of game you’re all playing, but it’s cruel. All I ever wanted was to be part of your life. How do you think it made me feel to know Mom and I had to be hidden away like something to be ashamed of?”

She leaned closer and jabbed an unpolished finger in their direction. “But I have news for you. I’m not trash under your feet. I’m smart, and I have a lot of common sense. I’m not going to hide in the shadows and pretend I’m not real. Not for you or anyone else.”

Kate turned and stalked toward the door as Luke put it all together. He jumped up and went after her, catching her by the arm just inside the big glass doors. “Please, I don’t think Claire wants you to go. This is all so overwhelming for you both. Stay and talk. Tell her what you need.”

Kate shook off his hand and bolted through the door. He watched her jog across the street and get into a Volkswagen.

He rejoined Claire on the sofa. “I can track Kate down and see what I can find out about her.”

“I accused her of trying to meet me to get money out of Dad. I feel badly about that now. I think she really does believe we’re sisters.”

“You don’t believe it?”

Her blue eyes were woebegone. “I’m not a Dellamare, Luke. I don’t know who I am.”

He picked up her hand and cradled it in both of his palms. “Someone knows who you are, Claire. And we’ll find out.”

She pulled her hand away and stood. “I think my grandmother knows more than she’s saying. And I’m going to find out what it is.” Looking down at him, she laid her palm against his cheek. “I need to do this alone.”

He nodded. “I’ll be here when you’re done.”

He wanted to believe the change in her circumstances might mean something could develop between them, but she was likely to run from this place and never look back.

Her grandparents’ suite was much like Claire’s own with black leather furniture on a plush cream rug. She practically fell into the room when Grandma opened the door. She had been here long enough that the place held the scent of her Tabu perfume and the scent of raspberry tea.

“Why, child, you’re as white as a sheet. Did that man come back?” Her grandmother still wore her pale-blue negligee and fitted slippers. “Sit down.” She guided Claire to the sofa.

Claire collapsed as the strength ran out of her legs. She leaned forward and buried her face in her hands. She choked back sobs. Her chest felt tight, as though she couldn’t get any air.

Her grandmother thrust a cool glass in her hand. “Here, drink some water.”

Claire obeyed, and the cool water eased some of the panic clamoring to get out. She raised her gaze to her grandmother’s face and found sad knowledge in those wise eyes. “You knew about Dad’s other family, didn’t you?”

Her grandmother nodded. “He told you?”

Claire set the glass down on the coffee table next to the sofa. “Kate told me.”

“Your sister.”

Grandmother doesn’t know. She shook her head. “Kate thought I was, but she hadn’t heard the news.”

“What news?” Her grandmother’s voice trembled.

“I’m not Claire Dellamare. A little girl’s bones were found on Luke’s property, near where they found his mother’s remains. There was a locket with the initials CD found with the bones. And there were scraps of a pink lace dress. Dental records confirm the remains as those of Claire Dellamare.” She jumped to her feet. “Who am I, Grandma? I don’t know.”

She rushed toward the door to the balcony. Air, she had to have air. And the ocean breeze on her skin would calm her. Fighting the door, she relaxed when her grandmother’s wrinkled hand clutched her arm.

“Sit down, honey. Be calm. Nothing will change my love for you. You’re safe here. Wanted.” Her grandmother’s voice grew husky.

Claire turned to her grandmother. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you let me find out this way?”

Tears flooded those wise eyes. “I promised your father I wouldn’t. He’s still my son-in-law, though he’s been a rascal, and I wanted to protect Lisa. I’m sorry, Claire. I should have told you.”

“And Kate. That poor girl is sick and thought finding her family would help her.” Claire finally succeeded in unlocking the door. “But how could she find help when all we have holding us together are lies?”

As she fled down the carpeted hall, her grandmother called after her, but she didn’t stop. She had to find Luke and get out on the water. Maybe there she could hear God’s voice and find peace.