Chapter 2 - Noah’s Secret)
Noah sat on a velvet bench near the hotel entrance with his tiny hands folded in his lap.
His blond hair had been carefully combed.
His gray three-piece suit matched the one Daniel had ordered for him months earlier.
His bow tie was crooked.
Beside him stood a woman Daniel did not recognize.
She wore navy medical scrubs beneath a long coat.
Daniel crossed the marble lobby.
“Noah.”
The boy jumped down.
“Grandpa.”
Daniel scooped him into his arms.
“Where’s Mommy?”
Noah wrapped both arms around Daniel’s neck.
The woman approached.
“Mr. Arden?”
“Yes.”
“My name is Anna Collins. I’m a nurse at St. Vincent’s.”
Daniel’s stomach tightened.
“Why were you with my grandson?”
“Your daughter was brought into emergency care early this morning.”
The lobby seemed suddenly too loud.
“What happened?”
“She had a concussion and a cut on her arm. She was disoriented when she arrived.”
“An accident?”
Anna hesitated.
“She told the admitting physician she fell.”
Daniel looked at Noah.
The boy had buried his face against Daniel’s shoulder.
“Where is Emily now?”
“She left.”
“What?”
“She discharged herself against medical advice around eight thirty.”
“Why would you let her?”
“We couldn’t legally force her to stay. She was alert by then.”
“And Noah?”
“He wasn’t at the hospital initially. A sitter brought him later. Your daughter asked me to make sure he reached you.”
Daniel tried to process the information.
“Why didn’t Emily call me?”
“She said she had lost her phone.”
“Where did she go?”
“I don’t know.”
Daniel lowered Noah gently onto the floor.
“Did she say anything?”
Anna shook her head.
“Only that Noah had to be with you before the wedding.”
She crouched.
“You remember what Mommy told you?”
Noah nodded.
Anna looked at Daniel.
“He insisted he needed to tell you himself.”
Daniel thanked her, then led Noah toward a quieter corridor outside the ballroom.
Music floated through the doors.
Guests had begun arriving.
Daniel knelt.
“Hey, buddy.”
Noah stared at him.
Daniel straightened the crooked bow tie.
“There.”
Noah touched it.
“Mommy did it first.”
“She did?”
“It got crooked in the car.”
Daniel smiled faintly.
“That happens.”
Noah suddenly grabbed Daniel’s hand.
His fingers were cold.
“Grandpa.”
“Yes?”
“She hurt Mommy.”
The words were barely audible.
Daniel’s smile disappeared.
“Who?”
Noah looked past him.
Daniel followed the child’s gaze.
Rebecca stood twenty yards away near the ballroom entrance.
She had changed into her wedding gown.
White lace covered her shoulders.
A veil fell down her back.
Bridesmaids surrounded her while a photographer took pictures.
Rebecca laughed at something someone said.
Noah pointed.
“Her.”
Daniel looked back at his grandson.
“What did you see?”
Noah’s breathing quickened.
“She yelled.”
“Where?”
“At your house.”
“When?”
“Last night.”
Daniel kept his voice gentle.
“Did Rebecca hurt Mommy?”
Noah nodded.
“How?”
“She hit her.”
Daniel felt heat rise behind his eyes.
“Did Mommy fall?”
Another nod.
“The glass broke.”
The kitchen.
Daniel remembered entering the house after midnight.
The kitchen had been clean.
Too clean.
Rebecca had told him Emily left angry.
She never mentioned a broken glass.
Daniel placed his hands lightly on Noah’s shoulders.
“Did anybody else see?”
The boy looked toward the ballroom.
Then he reached into the small pocket of his gray vest.
His fingers struggled.
Daniel helped him.
Noah pulled out a black USB flash drive.
He pressed it into Daniel’s palm.
“Mommy said hide this.”
Daniel stared at it.
“When did she give it to you?”
“In the car.”
“What car?”
“The blue car.”
Daniel did not own a blue car.
Neither did Emily.
“What did Mommy say?”
Noah frowned, concentrating.
“She said give Grandpa.”
“Anything else?”
“Don’t give it to the lady.”
Daniel closed his fingers around the drive.
Behind him, the ballroom doors opened.
Rebecca emerged with one bridesmaid.
She saw Daniel and smiled.
Then she saw Noah.
The smile vanished for less than a second.
Daniel noticed.
Rebecca approached.
“Noah. You made it.”
The boy moved behind Daniel.
Rebecca stopped.
Daniel stood.
“How did he get here?” she asked.
“A nurse brought him.”
“A nurse?”
“Emily was in the emergency room this morning.”
Rebecca stared at him.
“What?”
Her surprise was excellent.
If Daniel had not been holding the USB drive, he might have believed it.
“She had a concussion.”
Rebecca covered her mouth.
“Oh my God.”
“You didn’t know?”
“No.”
Daniel watched her eyes.
They moved to his closed fist.
“What’s that?”
“Nothing.”
He slipped the USB into his pocket.
Rebecca looked at Noah.
“Sweetheart, where’s Mommy?”
Noah tightened his grip on Daniel’s trousers.
Rebecca attempted to move closer.
Daniel stepped between them.
“He’s overwhelmed.”
“Of course.”
Rebecca looked back at Daniel.
“We should call Emily.”
“I already did.”
“And?”
“No answer.”
A hotel coordinator appeared at the ballroom entrance.
“Ms. Hale, we need you upstairs for final photographs.”
Rebecca nodded.
Then she touched Daniel’s arm.
“Come see me before the ceremony.”
“I will.”
She kissed his cheek.
Daniel did not move.
Rebecca walked away.
Noah tugged his sleeve.
“Grandpa?”
“Yes?”
“Mommy said you have to see.”
Daniel looked down at the USB hidden in his pocket.
Five minutes later, he handed Noah to Thomas and told him not to let anyone take the boy.
Then Daniel entered the groom’s room.
Locked the door.
May you like
Opened his laptop.
And discovered the first secret Rebecca had tried to bury.
