Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN WHO KEPT THE HOUSE
Emmett Fontaine looked smaller than Nell remembered.
He lay in the hospital bed with an oxygen tube under his nose, bruises around one wrist.
“Dad.”
His eyes moved toward her.
For a second, nothing happened.
Then his mouth trembled.
“Ellie.”
Nell broke.
She bent over him, crying into his shoulder.
“I’m here.”
His weak hand touched her hair.
“Pie girl.”
She laughed through tears.
“Yeah.”
Carmine stood near the door.
He gave them space.
After a few minutes, Emmett’s eyes found him.
His expression changed.
“Orsini.”
Carmine stepped closer.
“You knew my father?”
Emmett nodded slowly.
“Good man.”
Nell looked up.
“You told them Odette.”
Emmett’s fingers twitched.
“Odette... saw.”
“Saw what?”
“The alley.”
Carmine leaned closer.
“The night of the fire?”
“Yes.”
“What did she see?”
Emmett struggled.
“Truck.”
“What truck?”
“Calder.”
Then his face tightened.
“Woman... crying.”
Nell looked at Carmine.
“What woman?”
Emmett whispered, “Odette.”
The hospital door opened.
Everyone turned.
Odette stood there.
She looked twenty years older than she had that morning.
Nell stood.
“What did you do?”
Odette closed the door behind her.
“Nothing to your father.”
“Then why did Pike say to ask you?”
Odette’s eyes filled.
“Because I made the mistake that started all of this.”
Carmine stepped forward.
“Talk.”
Odette sat beside the wall.
“Vincent Calder was my younger brother.”
Silence.
Benny actually swore.
Carmine stared.
“You never told us.”
“I stopped using that name before I came to work for your family.”
Nell’s voice shook.
“You’re his sister?”
“Yes.”
“And you knew he wanted our bakery.”
“Not at first.”
“Stop lying!”
“I’m not.”
Odette’s tears fell now.
“He came to me after your father refused to sell. He asked about the neighborhood. Closing times. Deliveries.”
Nell’s face hardened.
“You told him.”
“I thought he was negotiating.”
“You told him when we closed.”
“Yes.”
“You told him when my father stayed late.”
Odette looked down.
“Yes.”
Nell slapped her.
The sound cracked through the room.
Nobody stopped her.
Odette touched her cheek.
“I deserved that.”
“No. You deserve worse.”
“I know.”
Carmine asked, “What happened the night of the fire?”
Odette looked at Emmett.
“I followed Vincent.”
“Why?”
“Because your father—your father, Carmine—had warned me that Vincent was getting desperate.”
She swallowed.
“I saw his truck behind the bakery. I saw Pike near the rear door.”
Nell’s voice became barely audible.
“And?”
“I saw him wrap the chain around the handles.”
Emmett closed his eyes.
Nell stared at Odette.
“You saw him chain us inside.”
“Yes.”
“And you didn’t stop him?”
Odette began sobbing.
“I tried.”
“Did you?”
“I ran toward them. Vincent grabbed me. He said nobody was inside.”
“My father’s truck was out front!”
“He said you had gone home.”
“But you knew?”
“I wasn’t sure.”
Nell backed away.
“You could have called the police.”
“I did.”
“When?”
“After the fire started.”
Nell laughed once.
A broken, angry sound.
“Thank you.”
Odette covered her face.
Carmine’s voice was cold.
“Why did you stay silent for three years?”
“Vincent threatened my son.”
Everyone stopped.
Benny frowned.
“You don’t have a son.”
Odette looked up.
“Yes, I do.”
“Where?”
“He was fourteen when I gave him up.”
Carmine stared.
“Who?”
May you like
Odette’s voice cracked.
“Darren Pike.”
