Chapter 5 - WHAT DIANE KNEW
Emily walked to the mantel.
Diane Hale smiled from the framed photograph.
The woman who had packed Emily's lunches.
Stayed beside her when she had pneumonia.
Taught her to drive.
Helped her choose her wedding dress.
Emily touched the frame.
“Did she know?”
Richard didn't answer.
Emily turned.
“Did Mom know who I was?”
“Emily.”
“Answer me.”
Richard's shoulders dropped.
“Yes.”
Emily closed her eyes.
Cole started toward her.
She lifted one hand.
Not because she didn't want him.
Because she needed one second to stand on her own.
“When?”
Richard stared at the floor.
“From the beginning.”
Emily opened her eyes.
Carol looked devastated.
“She knew?”
Richard nodded.
Carol covered her mouth.
Emily whispered.
“So my entire childhood was built on a lie.”
“No.”
Richard stepped forward.
“Diane loved you.”
“Don't use love to excuse this.”
Richard stopped.
Emily's voice broke.
“She let another woman believe her baby was dead.”
Richard looked toward Diane's photograph.
“She was desperate.”
“So was Carol.”
Richard said nothing.
Emily took the photograph from the mantel.
For one terrible moment, Cole thought she might throw it.
She didn't.
She held it against her chest.
“I still love her.”
Carol's face crumpled.
Emily looked at her.
“I need you to understand that.”
Carol nodded through tears.
“She raised you.”
“She was my mom.”
“I know.”
Emily's voice shook.
“And you're my mother.”
Carol began crying harder.
“But I don't know what that means yet.”
“You don't have to.”
Emily looked surprised.
Carol wiped her face.
“You don't owe me twenty-eight years because somebody stole them from us.”
Cole saw Emily's shoulders loosen slightly.
Carol continued.
“You don't owe me a hug.”
“You don't owe me the word Mom.”
“You don't owe me Christmas.”
“You don't owe me anything.”
Richard turned away.
Perhaps because Carol had just shown more respect for Emily's choices in thirty seconds than he had shown all night.
Then Ruiz's radio crackled.
He stepped away to answer.
Cole looked at Richard.
“What happens if Patricia confirms this?”
“She won't.”
“Why?”
Richard smiled faintly.
“Because Patricia died six months ago.”
Carol stared at him.
“What?”
Richard nodded.
“Stroke.”
Emily looked toward Carol.
Carol seemed genuinely shocked.
Then Ruiz returned.
His expression was serious.
“Mr. Hale.”
Richard turned.
“You need to come with me.”
“For what?”
Ruiz glanced at Emily.
“The recording is enough to establish probable cause regarding what happened tonight.”
Richard laughed.
“You're arresting me because I grabbed my daughter?”
Ruiz's expression remained flat.
“I'm detaining you while this is reviewed.”
Richard pointed at Emily.
“Tell him.”
Emily didn't move.
“Emily.”
Nothing.
“I am your father.”
Emily finally looked at him.
“And I'm your daughter.”
Richard seemed relieved.
Until she continued.
“Which means you should have been the first person who made me feel safe.”
Richard's face fell.
Ruiz stepped toward him.
Richard looked at Cole.
“You did this.”
Cole shook his head.
“No.”
Then he looked at Emily.
“She finally stopped protecting you from the consequences of your own choices.”
Ruiz escorted Richard toward the door.
Before leaving, Richard turned around.
“There are things you still don't know.”
Emily stared at him.
Richard smiled coldly.
“Ask Carol why she waited until you were pregnant to come back.”
The door closed.
May you like
Emily slowly turned toward Carol.
And once again, Carol looked afraid.
