“Who’s that?”
I forced myself to smile.
“Just a friend of Daddy’s.”
Claire looked like the words had cut through her.
Lily came closer.
She looked at Claire carefully.
Then she said, “You were at the hospital.”
My blood turned cold.
Claire crouched.
“You saw me?”
Lily nodded.
“Daddy showed me your picture.”
I looked at Claire.Then at my daughter.
“What picture?”
Lily shrugged.
“He said you were Aunt Claire.”
Claire’s face collapsed.
She covered her mouth.
I couldn’t speak.
Jack had told Lily.
Not me.
Our four-year-old daughter knew Claire existed.
I felt betrayed all over again.
Then Lily walked directly toward Claire and held out the stuffed rabbit.
“He said you were sad.”
Claire broke down.
She took the rabbit gently, pressing it against her chest.
For the first time, my anger toward her vanished.
Whatever Jack had done, whatever he had hidden, this woman had lost him too.
