Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN DIANE SAID WAS DEAD
Ryan had been told the same story since childhood.
Diane was his mother.
Thomas was his father.
He had been born six weeks early.
Diane had nearly died in delivery.
There were no hospital photographs because the birth had been chaotic.
The family moved states shortly afterward because Thomas changed jobs.
Simple.
Complete.
False.
Ryan held the locket at the kitchen table while Claire sat beside Lily with an ice pack wrapped in a towel.
The pediatrician had already been called.
Lily’s arm had no fracture.
No serious injury.
Just redness and fear.
Ryan looked at Diane.
“Start talking.”
Diane sat across from him.
For once, she did not look like the person who controlled every family conversation.
She looked hunted.
“Laura was my younger sister.”
Ryan blinked.
“You have a sister?”
“Had.”
“Had?”
“She’s gone.”
“Dead?”
Diane hesitated.
Ryan’s voice rose.
“IS SHE DEAD?”
“No.”
The room went silent.
Ryan stood so fast his chair scraped backward.
“You told me you were an only child.”
Diane looked down.
“I told you what was necessary.”
Claire’s jaw tightened.
Ryan laughed once.
Necessary.
The word did something ugly to him.
“Was she my mother?”
Diane closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
Ryan stared.
Then pointed to himself.
“So you’re my aunt.”
Diane whispered:
“I raised you.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“You were mine in every way that mattered.”
Ryan slammed the locket onto the table.
“Then why did you hit my daughter to hide this?”
Diane finally looked at him.
“Because I knew exactly what that thing would do.”
Ryan stared.
“It would tell me the truth.”
“No.”
Diane’s voice hardened.
“It would destroy everything your father and I spent thirty-five years protecting.”
Claire said quietly:
“Protecting from who?”
Diane looked at Ryan.
May you like
Then answered:
“Laura.”
