Little Blue Box by Frances Dall'Alba

Author:Frances Dall'Alba
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Poinsettia Publishing

CHAPTER 19

“Helen, cancel the remainder of my appointments for today.”

Ella’s father stood at his office door, making the request to his secretary before clicking the door closed and turning to face Ella.

Now that she was in his office, she wanted to appear cool and confident, not flustered. With her hands behind her back, she squeezed her fingers together and forced the nerves to stop fluttering in her stomach.

He continued to stare. His mouth was a straight line and his hands were clenched tightly by his sides.

Was he in shock? Of course, you dill. After all, he must believe his wife and child had died all those years ago.

She was keen to learn why her mother had mysteriously disappeared, and though she would let her mother tell her own story when she returned home, for now, she would learn her father’s side. She wasn’t going to help him or offer any information. Calculated? Yes, but she didn’t want her opinion to be biased. Though they were on opposite sides of the world, they were her parents. For better or worse. Whatever had happened between them was not her fault. She concentrated hard on staying calm but his next words threw her.

“So … what makes you think I’m your father?”

Fair question, though she hadn’t expected it up front, nor had she suggested he was her father—yet.

Ella unzipped her bag and delved inside for the photo. She stepped closer and handed it to him. “The woman on the left was your wife. She’s also my mother.”

He stared and stared at the photo. When she despaired that he’d never utter another word, he spoke, clearly lost in thought, with his gaze riveted to the photo.

“Catherine and her best friend. Mathilda Savro. I suspected she might’ve been involved but had nothing to go on. Married into that bastard Boston mafia family, anything was possible.” Discovering snippets of what might’ve happened brought out the bitterness in his voice. No doubt he carried layer upon layer of sadness, guilt, anger, you name it. Over the years it may have dulled at the edges, but to be confronted with the ugly truth of what could’ve happened would bring it all back. The bitter taste of deception would never leave him—she could see it etched clearly on his face. Ella understood that much.

He slammed the photo on the corner of his desk and swore. “Why the hell didn’t I dig further? I’d forbidden her from having anything to do with Mathilda, but I should’ve guessed she never would have severed the relationship. Damn.”

He paced near his desk and to Ella it seemed as if he’d forgotten her. She took in every word he said, though. He wasn’t aware of the importance of the information he was spilling. For Zane’s benefit, it was vital that she pay attention.

He stopped and swung around, eyes gazing past her, not seeing. She had to give him time to get over the shock. It was no doubt the last thing he’d expected to deal with when he awoke this morning.

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