THIRTY

Claire sat on the balcony of her mother’s house overlooking the Atlantic. Boats dotted the harbor, and she sighed with contentment as she sipped a cup of tea and nibbled on the still-warm ginger cookies. “I’ve missed this view, Mom.”

Her mother, dressed in a subdued blue dress and heels, smiled at her. “It was such a surprise to see you. What brought you to town?”

Claire told her about Mallory’s search, and her mother pursed her lips at the name Thad Hugon. “I can’t say I’m surprised he wasn’t faithful to his wife. They seemed a strange couple. Your father and I have traveled in those same circles for years, and they were always off talking to other people. When it was time to leave, they were as stiff and formal as strangers.”

She shifted her attention toward the sea, and Claire could see the wheels turning. Her mother had lived here a long time. Might she know something important about this situation? “Have you ever heard the name Olivia Nelson?”

Her mother blinked and straightened. “Olivia? Why, of course. It caused a huge scandal when she was caught embezzling funds and sent off to prison. I met her several times. Why do you ask about her?”

“She’s Mallory’s birth mother. Mallory was born when Olivia was in prison.”

Her mother gasped and put her hand to her throat. “Oh, good heavens! I never dreamed it would be someone I know. She’s out of prison now, you know.”

“When was the last time you saw her? Would you have any idea where she went when she got out?”

“She applied for a job at Cramer Aviation and told your father she hadn’t taken any money. Harry felt sorry for her, but he couldn’t hire her, not with his close connection to Thad. He believed her enough to give her a letter of recommendation though. He got a call from a potential employer about five years ago. It was in Bangor, I think. Or maybe Augusta. I can’t remember.”

“So she’s in Maine.” Claire made a mental note to tell Mallory this piece of news. “Do you remember the name of the company or anything about it?”

Her mother twisted her heavy rings around on her finger. “I think it was the IT department of some company. I don’t know if she got the job or not. I’m sorry I can’t remember more about it.” Her lips parted and she gasped. “Oh, I almost forgot. She changed her name after she got out of prison. She started using her middle name, but I can’t remember what it was.”

“I bet the private investigator can figure it out.” She reached for her tea and took another sip. “H-how’s Dad doing?” It was a touchy subject because of everything he’d done, but it was impossible to turn off the spigot of a lifetime of love.

Her mother shrugged her slim shoulders. “He says the food is terrible, and his cell is cold. It’s only three years though, and he’ll be out.”

“And the business?”

“Thanks to you, the merger went through, and I’ve been leaving the running of things to the Goughs. You are welcome to take over if you want, however.”

Claire wasn’t even tempted. “I’m happy up in Folly Shoals. The house you bought us is perfect, Mom. Thanks again for being so thoughtful. It’s truly lovely, and it’s going to be spectacular when the remodel is done. Luke and I bought a bigger boat too. I’m having a website done to start running charters and tours. We’ll take tourists out to see whales, birds, and other marine life.”

Her mother’s mouth held a pinched line. “I just wish you were closer, Claire. I hardly get to see you.”

“You could move closer, maybe get a summer cottage.” Her mother would never leave the hustle and bustle of Boston for long, but short stints in Maine would keep them connected.

“That’s a thought. I’ll consider it.” Her mother held up the plate of cookies. “You’re too thin. Have another cookie.”

Claire smiled and took another ginger cookie. “Once a mother, always a mother.”

The dining room was the biggest Kevin had ever seen, easily thirty feet long and twenty feet wide. The gleaming wooden table had to have been handmade because he counted forty chairs tucked around it. Four chandeliers hung above it, and the coffered ceiling had gold accents. The dark, scrolling wallpaper added to the opulent atmosphere.

The staff had set the table for five at the closest end of the table, and only that chandelier was on, which brought a sense of coziness to the cavernous space. Kevin led Mallory to the two place settings on her father’s left.

Mr. Hugon sat at the head of the table in a gold silk robe. “I hope you’ll forgive me for not dressing for the occasion. I knew my strength would be gone if I changed my clothes.”

“You look very nice.” Mallory slid into the chair closest to her father that Kevin pulled out for her.

He sat beside her and looked across the table at the empty place settings. “Who else is joining us?”

“My attorney, Richard Blake, and his wife. They should arrive shortly.”

Richard Blake. Where had Kevin heard that name? Then it hit him. DeAnn’s husband was a Richard Blake. Could it be the same man? Though he was running for the Senate, he was an attorney, wasn’t he? Kevin hadn’t been interested enough to pay much attention to the facts Kate had told him.

The doorbell pealed a sonorous tone, and a few moments later footsteps clattered on the marble floors. Kevin looked toward the doorway and saw DeAnn approaching on the arm of a distinguished gentleman in a suit. Kevin guessed his age at sixty. She wore a black sheath dress that showed off her figure, and Richard’s suit was impeccable. She hadn’t seen him yet as her attention was focused on her host. She advanced about five feet into the room before her gaze connected with Kevin’s.

The dazzling smile on her face faltered. “K-Kevin, what are you doing here?”

Her husband’s deep-set blue eyes were congenial, and he had the kind of magnetism that would serve him well in politics. He glanced at Kevin with a friendly smile before moving on to Mallory. “You must be Thad’s daughter. He was quite excited to meet you.”

“Richard, I can see you haven’t made the connection yet. This is Kevin O’Connor.”

The brilliance of Richard’s smile only blinked. “You’re right, I hadn’t realized. Forgive me.” Hand extended, he advanced to Kevin, who rose and shook hands with him.

Kevin sat back down and watched DeAnn give Hugon a gentle hug. “I had no idea you knew Mr. Hugon.”

DeAnn tinkled out a fake laugh. “I’ve eaten here many times since I married Richard.”

Hugon leaned back in his chair and rested on the armrests. “How do the two of you know each other? I’m quite lost.”

“DeAnn was married to Kevin years ago for about half a minute,” Richard said.

“It was actually three years, but we divorced eight years ago.” Kevin reached over and took Mallory’s hand. He could use the moral support right now. No wonder DeAnn had left him if she had this lifestyle in her sights. The guy seemed nice enough, though obviously a lot older. She would be a rich widow one of these days.

“Oh my.” Hugon blinked and made an obvious effort to mask his surprise. “I hope it’s not too uncomfortable for you all.”

“Of course not,” DeAnn said quickly. “I saw Kevin just the other day when I was visiting our daughter.” She shot Kevin a warning glance. “We’re on friendly terms.”

Mallory’s fingers squeezed his and he squeezed back. This wasn’t the time or place to get into DeAnn’s shortcomings as a mother. He respected Hugon too much to add any stress to the evening. “You’ve been his attorney long?”

Richard joined his wife on the other side of the table and sat in the chair nearest Hugon. “I was a young whippersnapper lawyer fresh out of college. Thad and I were roommates, and he asked his father to give me a chance. Luckily Mr. Hugon took a liking to me and asked that I be added to the firm he used. Two of us have taken care of Thad’s legal matters all these years, but my partner is semiretired now.”

DeAnn slanted a smile up at him. “You’re a likable guy.”

Richard’s dimple flashed when he smiled back. “I think you’re a little prejudiced, sweetheart.”

Kevin warmed toward him with that show of affection. He didn’t hold any grudges against DeAnn, and he would have hated for her to have ended up in a bad place. “Looks like you’re ahead in the latest polls.”

“Thad has been a great help. His belief in me gave me the confidence to even try for the Senate.”

A young woman in a voluminous white apron over a red dress appeared in the doorway. “Are you ready for dinner to be served, sir?”

“Yes, please,” Hugon said.

Mallory touched her father’s arm. “Are you all right? Should I call the nurse? You look a little pale.”

His other hand came down on hers. “I’m as fine as I’m going to be, my dear. I’m so glad I got a chance to meet you before I died. You’ve made me very happy.”

She looked down at her hands and blinked back tears. This was harder on her than Kevin had thought it would be. Even though she hadn’t known him long, Hugon was the sort of father anyone would want. Powerful but compassionate. Rich but gentle. Or so he seemed. Unless everything he’d told them so far was a lie, Mallory’s life would have been safe with him. But Hugon wouldn’t be around for long.

Kevin glanced across the table at the Blakes. Richard probably didn’t care if a long-lost daughter showed up, but had it upset DeAnn? Her color was high, and she seemed a little flustered by their sudden appearance here.