Chapter 4 - THE FIRST CRACK IN THEIR STORY
Three weeks later, Chloe came to my office.
I was reviewing restoration plans for a century-old public library in Ballard when my receptionist knocked.
“Eleanor? Your sister is here.”
My stomach tightened.
“Tell her I'm unavailable.”
A moment later, Chloe appeared anyway.
She looked exhausted.
Her face was pale, and she wore a loose gray sweater.
“Ellie, please.”
I stood.
“You need to leave.”
Her eyes filled.
“Just five minutes.”
I looked at my receptionist.
“Would you give us a moment?”
The door closed.
Chloe remained near it.
For a long time, neither of us spoke.
Then she whispered, “I'm sorry.”
I looked at her.
“Which part?”
She flinched.
“The affair.”
“Which part of the affair?”
“Ellie—”
“The lying? The apartment? Christmas dinner? The pregnancy announcement? Which part are you sorry about?”
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
“All of it.”
I folded my arms.
“Then tell me the truth.”
She looked at the floor.
“I was lonely.”
I stared.
“Lonely?”
“After my breakup with Aaron, I felt like everyone was moving forward except me.”
I said nothing.
She continued.
“Julian listened. He made me feel important.”
I remembered Aaron.
Chloe's former boyfriend.
They had broken up the previous summer after a difficult relationship.
I'd helped her move.
Bought groceries.
Sat with her while she cried.
“Did you ever think about me?”
She covered her face.
“Every day.”
“Apparently not enough.”
She nodded.
“No.”
I waited.
Then asked the question that had troubled me since Julian's confession.
“Are you certain he's the father?”
Chloe's expression changed.
“Yes.”
“How?”
She swallowed.
“Because he is.”
“Chloe.”
Her eyes flickered toward the door.
I felt a chill.
“Was there someone else?”
She shook her head too quickly.
“No.”
I stared at her.
“Look at me.”
She did.
And I saw fear.
Not guilt.
Fear.
“Chloe, if you don't know, you need to tell Julian.”
She began crying harder.
“You don't understand.”
“Then help me understand.”
She stepped backward.
“I can't.”
I watched her.
“Why?”
Her voice became a whisper.
“Because Margaret already announced everything.”
I stared.
“That's not an answer.”
She shook her head.
Then said something I would remember for months.
“Sometimes a lie becomes so big that telling the truth feels like destroying everyone.”
I looked at my sister.
“No, Chloe.”
My voice was quiet.
“The lie already did that.”
After she left, I called Rebecca.
“I think Chloe may be hiding something about the paternity.”
Rebecca listened.
Then said, “Don't investigate her private medical information. Let the appropriate legal process establish the facts.”
I agreed.
But the uncertainty stayed with me.
May you like
Because Julian had built his future on a claim nobody had verified.
And Margaret had already turned that claim into a public celebration.
