Chapter 7 - What Rebecca Knew About Anna
Lucas saw the photograph the following morning.
Sophie placed it beside his coffee.
He looked at it for a long time.
"Where did you get this?"
"Mommy's coat."
Lucas picked it up.
Anna and Rebecca stood side by side at a corporate summer picnic.
Lucas remembered the event vaguely.
He had been traveling.
Rebecca looked about twenty-four.
Anna had never mentioned her.
When Rebecca entered the kitchen, Lucas held up the photograph.
"Explain."
Rebecca stopped.
For several seconds she simply stared.
Then she sat down.
"I knew Anna."
Lucas felt something collapse inside him.
"You told me you met her twice."
"I lied."
"Why?"
"Because I knew you'd never date me if you thought I had been part of her life."
"How much a part?"
"I interned at Dawson Medical for one summer."
"Under Anna?"
"Near her department."
Lucas put the photograph down.
"You knew about the trust."
Rebecca hesitated.
"Yes."
"You knew before we met."
"Yes."
Sophie stood silently near the doorway.
Lucas's voice became low.
"Did you approach me because of it?"
"No."
"Why should I believe you?"
"Because I loved you before I even realized the trust still existed."
"That's not an answer."
Rebecca began crying.
"My father and Anna hated each other near the end."
"Why?"
"Business."
"What business?"
"I don't know."
Lucas laughed once.
It was a harsh sound.
"Everyone seems to know everything except me."
Rebecca reached for him.
He stepped back.
She stopped.
"I was ashamed," she said. "My father lost money in a deal involving Anna's company. There were accusations. I didn't want that history becoming ours."
"What accusations?"
Rebecca looked toward Sophie.
"Can we not do this in front of her?"
Lucas followed her eyes.
For once, he agreed.
"Sophie, go upstairs."
The girl hesitated.
Lucas softened his voice.
"Please."
After Sophie left, Lucas turned back.
"What accusations?"
Rebecca spoke slowly.
"Anna believed my father had improperly moved investment funds."
"Improperly?"
"She accused him of theft."
"Was she right?"
"No."
Too fast.
Lucas noticed.
"So she accused your father of stealing from her family. Then she died. Years later you began dating her husband. You knew her daughter inherited the trust, and you never told me any of this."
Rebecca wiped her tears.
"When you say it like that, it sounds horrible."
"How else should I say it?"
"I met you by accident."
"Did you?"
"Yes."
"Was the charity dinner really an accident?"
Rebecca looked away.
Lucas's stomach turned.
"Rebecca."
"My father knew you'd be there."
Lucas stared at her.
"He encouraged me to introduce myself."
"Why?"
"He wanted peace between the families."
Lucas nearly laughed.
"Through marriage?"
"I didn't plan to fall in love with you."
"So there was a plan."
"No."
"You just said your father sent you to meet me."
"To talk."
Lucas walked to the window.
He felt physically ill.
Rebecca approached.
"Lucas, whatever happened at the beginning, what happened between us became real."
He turned.
"Real things don't require this many lies."
Rebecca flinched.
"Postpone the wedding if you need to."
The words surprised him.
Maybe that was what she intended.
Reverse psychology.
Maybe she expected him to refuse.
Lucas looked toward the staircase.
He thought of Sophie.
"I might."
Rebecca's fear became genuine.
"You can't."
There it was.
Lucas stared.
Rebecca corrected herself.
"I mean, three hundred people are traveling."
"I don't care."
"My parents have paid deposits."
"I'll reimburse them."
"It's a week away."
"So?"
Rebecca's composure broke.
"The trust audit."
Lucas went still.
"What about it?"
Rebecca realized her mistake.
"Nothing."
"You just said the trust audit."
"I meant your attorney said the audit happens when we're married. Postponing will create more complications."
"Complications for whom?"
"For everyone."
Lucas stepped closer.
"Why do you care when Sophie's trust gets audited?"
Rebecca said nothing.
Lucas nodded slowly.
"That's what I thought."
He left the kitchen.
Rebecca remained frozen.
Upstairs, Sophie had heard enough.
She ran to her room.
The letter was gone.
Anna's coat pocket was empty.
Sophie searched everywhere.
Then she remembered Rebecca had gone upstairs before breakfast.
She ran toward the bridal room.
The door was open.
Inside, Rebecca stood beside the fireplace.
Anna's letter was in her hand.
This time a flame burned beneath it.
Sophie screamed.
"No."
Rebecca turned.
Sophie rushed forward and grabbed the envelope.
The fire touched one corner.
Rebecca pulled back.
The envelope tore.
Half fell to the floor.
Sophie grabbed it.
Rebecca stared at the remaining half in her own hand.
Neither moved.
Then Rebecca whispered.
"You have no idea what that letter can do."
Sophie backed toward the door.
"Mommy wanted Daddy to have it."
Rebecca's eyes filled with something Sophie had never seen before.
Not anger.
Fear.
"If Lucas reads that letter, my father goes to prison."
Sophie stopped.
May you like
Rebecca realized what she had admitted.
The little girl ran.
