Chapter 2
Julian refused to leave the museum with Vanessa.
Instead, he took Avice upstairs to Cesare’s private office overlooking Boston Harbor.
Avice sat on the sofa with a cup of warm milk while Julian knelt in front of her.
“Did Vanessa ever hurt you?”
Avice shook her head.
“Did Aunt Diane?”
Another shake.
Julian exhaled.
Then Avice added quietly, “She says I make Vanessa sad.”
Julian looked up.
“Who says that?”
“Aunt Diane.”
Cesare stood near the window.
His expression hardened.
“What else does Diane tell you?”
Avice thought carefully.
“That babies need families.”
“You have a family.”
“I know.”
She looked toward Julian.
“But she says Daddy needs a new one.”
Julian closed his eyes.
Cesare watched his son absorb it.
For months Julian had defended Diane whenever Cesare complained that she involved herself too much in his relationship.
“She means well,” Julian always said.
Now those words sounded different.
Avice climbed onto the sofa and finally opened the card she had made for Cesare.
The front showed three stick figures.
Avice.
Julian.
Cesare.
There was an aquarium drawn behind them.
Inside, she had glued a small paper heart.
Then Cesare noticed something on the back.
Another drawing.
A woman in a long dress.
Beside her was a large pink oval.
The oval was not attached to the woman.
It was lying on a chair.
“Who is this?”
“Vanessa.”
“And that?”
Avice pointed.
“Her tummy.”
Julian stared at the drawing.
“When did you see that?”
“At the fish place.”
“The museum?”
Avice nodded.
“Vanessa takes it off when she gets hot.”
Cesare and Julian looked at each other.
This had not been a last-minute stunt.
Avice had seen the false belly before.
“How many times?”
Avice held up three fingers.
Julian went pale.
Cesare kept his voice gentle.
“Who else was there?”
Avice looked at the drawing again.
“Aunt Diane.”
Julian stood abruptly.
Cesare caught his arm.
“Not yet.”
“She knew.”
“We know Avice saw her. We don’t know what Diane knew.”
Julian pulled away.
“My daughter just told us.”
“She told us what she saw. Don't make her responsible for proving the rest.”
Julian stopped.
It was an important distinction.
Cesare had spent most of his adult life acting on instinct.
This time, instinct had already put Ethan on the floor and Diane against a coral display.
He would not make the next mistake in front of Avice.
Downstairs, Diane was waiting with Vanessa.
When Cesare returned, his sister immediately stood.
“This family does not need more humiliation tonight.”
Cesare closed the door behind him.
“No.”
May you like
He placed Avice’s card on the table.
“It needs the truth.”
