Chapter 2 - WHAT CLAIRE HAD BEEN SAYINGI stared at Jenna.
“What do you mean, gone?”
“I don't know.”
Claire was already moving toward us.
“Jenna, stop.”
Emmett stepped between them.
“No.”
Claire froze.
He looked at Jenna.
“Finish.”
Jenna's hands were shaking.
“About three months ago, Claire told us she wanted Margot spending more time with Walter after the wedding.”
I frowned.
“There is nothing unusual about Margot spending time with me.”
Jenna nodded.
“I know. But that's not how she said it.”
“How did she say it?”
Jenna swallowed.
“She said eventually Margot could practically live with you.”
Emmett's face drained of color.
Claire laughed nervously.
“Oh, for God's sake. We were joking.”
“I wasn't laughing.”
Jenna's voice grew stronger.
“You said having a child around would make the first years of marriage impossible.”
Claire stared at her.
“You're twisting everything.”
“No.”
Another bridesmaid stood.
Her name was Lauren.
She looked miserable.
“She's not.”
Claire slowly turned toward her.
Lauren continued.
“You told us Emmett felt guilty about Phoebe, and Margot was the reason he couldn't move on.”
“Stop.”
“You said once you and Emmett had your own baby, things would become easier.”
“Lauren.”
“And you said Walter would probably be happy to raise Margot.”
The room erupted in whispers.
I felt Margot press against me.
That was enough.
Whatever else needed to happen could happen without her listening.
I knelt.
“Sweetheart, remember Mrs. Harrison?”
Margot nodded.
My sister Ruth was sitting near the rear of the ballroom.
“Go sit with Aunt Ruth for a few minutes.”
Margot looked worried.
“Are you leaving?”
“No.”
“Promise?”
I held out my little finger.
“Promise.”
She wrapped hers around mine.
Ruth came over and led her away.
Only after Margot was beyond hearing distance did I face Claire.
“You planned to push her out.”
“No.”
Claire's voice cracked.
“You don't understand.”
“Then make me understand.”
She looked at Emmett.
“I wanted us to have a marriage.”
“We could have had one.”
“Not with Phoebe living in every room!”
Emmett recoiled.
Claire continued before she could stop herself.
“Her photographs are everywhere. Margot talks about her constantly. Walter tells stories about her every Sunday. You visit her grave on her birthday. You still have her clothes in boxes.”
“She was my wife.”
“And I'm your wife!”
“Not at my daughter's expense.”
Claire's expression hardened.
“There. That's exactly what I mean.”
Emmett stared at her.
“What?”
“I will always come second.”
“To my child?”
“To Phoebe.”
“That isn't the same thing.”
“It feels the same.”
For the first time, Claire sounded less cruel than broken.
But pain does not excuse cruelty.
I knew that better than most.
Emmett looked around the ballroom.
“This reception is over.”
Claire's father stood.
“You cannot be serious.”
“I've never been more serious.”
“You have guests who traveled across the country.”
“Then they can travel home.”
Claire began crying.
“Emmett, please.”
He looked at her.
“We'll talk privately.”
Hope flickered across her face.
Then he added:
“But Margot doesn't spend one minute alone with you until I understand everything that's happened.”
Claire's expression collapsed.
I took Margot home that night.
She fell asleep in the back seat still wearing her pink dress.
When we reached my house, I carried her inside.
As I pulled the blanket over her, she opened her eyes.
“Grandpa?”
“Yes?”
“Did I ruin Daddy's wedding?”
My heart broke all over again.
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
She stared at me.
“Then why was everybody mad?”
I sat beside her.
“Because sometimes adults make bad choices, and other adults have to tell the truth about them.”
She thought about that.
“Is Daddy mad at me?”
“Never.”
She closed her eyes.
Ten minutes later, my phone rang.
Emmett.
I answered immediately.
“What happened?”
His breathing sounded uneven.
“Walter, I went through Claire's laptop.”
I stood.
“And?”
“There are emails.”
“What kind of emails?”
He went silent.
Then:
“She contacted a boarding school.”
I gripped the phone.
“For Margot?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Four months ago.”
My stomach turned.
“Does it get worse?”
Emmett didn't answer immediately.
May you like
When he finally did, his voice sounded broken.
“Walter... she told them she was Margot's mother.”
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