“Almost too peaceful.”
In the car, we’d discussed our visit with the Sterlings, and she’d promised to do as I asked and stick to the plan, which I was leery about. If I was able to secure a confession, she had a text message queued up and ready to go to Foley and Whitlock, letting them know where we were and telling them to meet us there. All my mother had to do was press a button and the message would be sent.
I knocked, and the door opened. Roxy stood there, polished and poised in a cream sweater and dark slacks.
Behind her, Wyatt appeared, looking surprised to see us. “Hello, Georgiana. I didn’t expect to see you back again so soon.”
“I know,” I said. “This is my mother, and I know it’s a bit unusual to have her here with me, but?—”
My mother swished a hand through the air. “I insisted I come. It isn’t often I get to spend the day with my daughter. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all,” Wyatt said.
“Do the two of you have a few minutes to talk?”
Wyatt stepped aside. “Sure, come on in.”
We convened in the living room, where a fire burned in the hearth.
I eased into the questions, keeping them simple at first, talking to them about my visit with Lenny and what I’d learned since we last spoke.
My mother remained silent, watching them as if she had been assigned the role of human lie detector.
After a few minutes, I leaned forward, my hands clasped, as I looked at Roxy.
“I need to ask a difficult question.”
Roxy bit down on her lip, nodding as she stared into the fire. “I believe I know what you’re about to ask but go ahead.”
“Are you two Holly’s biological parents?”
Roxy’s hand flew to her mouth as tears spilled down her cheeks, and Wyatt stiffened beside her.
She turned toward him and said, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I know I should have told you, but …”
Wyatt closed his eyes.
Not in shock.
Not in disbelief.
In resignation.
He knew about the pregnancy.
And if he wasn’t Holly’s father …
Roxy wiped her cheeks, but the tears kept coming, spilling down her cheeks like rain sliding off a windowpane. “I never meant to hide the truth from you, Wyatt. I just didn’t know how to face you and tell you what I’d done.”
Wyatt straightened, his jaw clenched, but he remained silent.
“I’m sorry I kept it from you,” she continued. “I’m sorry I never told you I was her biological mother.”
Roxy hadn’t seemed to clue in on the fact that he hadn’t reacted with surprise, so I cut in. “You knew about Roxy’s pregnancy, didn’t you, Wyatt?”
Wyatt’s gaze met mine, and he shook his head, as if trying to stop me from saying anything more.
I shifted my attention to Roxy. “If Wyatt isn’t Holly’s father, is her father Sebastian?”
