Page 115 of Don't Believe A Word

And now this –He doesn’t love you as much as I do.

Deciding again that she wasn’t going to let it distract her, she dumped the messages into a folder and shut down the thread just as David finished his call.

‘We’re going to Floral Grove for breakfast,’ she told him as he stood up. ‘I’ll explain on the way.’

*

Evie had coffee and pastries waiting when they arrived. Lukas was at his computer, checking the markets apparently, although he joined them moments after they’d sat down in the kitchen. Gabe was standing almost statue-like with his back to the glass doors onto the deck, a dark, indistinguishable silhouette against the early morning sunlight – until he too came to the table and sat down. He wasn’t wearing his dark glasses this morning and his eyes, Cristy noticed right away, were blue and clear, and so filled with anguish that she instantly regretted blurting out Sadie’s predicament the way she had.

‘They lock one another up?’ he said in confusion. ‘Why would they do that?’

‘I’m not sure I understand it myself,’ Cristy confessed, ‘although I think this might be the first time Sadie has done it to her aunt. Usually it’s the other way around.’

‘What the …?’ Evie muttered under her breath.

‘She locked her aunt up …’ Gabe repeated.

‘She’s not her aunt,’ Lukas reminded him.

Flummoxed, Gabe said, ‘What does she hope to gain from this?’

Cristy glanced at David, not quite sure how to answer that.

‘Probably more of the truth,’ David suggested. ‘Now Sadie knows—’

‘She’s Sasha,’ Lukas interrupted. ‘Our Sasha. I think we must call her by her name.’

Going with it, David said, ‘Now Sasha knows that at least one of her aunts met her mother and lied about it, she understandably wants to know what else they’ve kept from her.’

‘Like how Janina died,’ Lukas put in tightly. ‘I’m sorry, Gabe, I’ve never liked to say this to you, but I’m sure those women know more than they ever let on.’

Gabe’s eyes were full of uncertainty as he looked at David. ‘Is Sasha in danger?’ he asked.

‘I don’t think so,’ David replied, ‘but clearly things are getting out of hand which is why we need to get back there.’

‘We should come too,’ Lukas stated, getting to his feet. ‘We have to be sure she’s safe. We can’t lose her again.’

‘She’ll be OK,’ Evie assured him gently. ‘Won’t she?’ she asked Cristy.

Deciding not to remind them that, as things stood, Mia was the prisoner, not Sadie, Cristy said, ‘It’s probable that the worst is already over and things have calmed down. I’ll check with Connor, my colleague, who’s there, at the house, and call you as soon as I have an update.’

‘We – are – coming,’ Lukas insisted. ‘Gabe is her father. She needs him now, and I’m her uncle …’

Seeming to read the situation more clearly than he did, Evie said, ‘Let’s wait until we know that she wants to see you, sweetie. She hasn’t said anything about it yet … Has she?’ she asked Cristy.

Feeling for Lukas and Gabe who were looking increasingly afraid, Cristy said, ‘Not as far as I know, but I’m sure she will, once we’ve got things straightened out over there.’

‘It won’t help to walk into the middle of everything,’ Evie cautioned Lukas. ‘She has people there to help her sort that out, then we can meet her and let her know how very much we want her to be a part of our lives.’

Lukas looked at Cristy, clearly torn, unsure of the right thing to say. ‘We’ll be on the next plane if she wants us to be,’ he told her. ‘Or she can come here. Whatever works best for her.’

Impulsively squeezing his hand, Cristy said, ‘We’re going straight to Guernsey from Miami – one change – but my phone will be on the whole time. I’ll be in touch the minute I know more.’

Going to shake Gabe’s hand, David said, ‘I have no doubt she’ll want to meet you, and when it happens you’ll be very proud of her.’

Gabe stared back at him, tears welling in his eyes. ‘Is she like her mother?’ he asked hoarsely. ‘The photos say she is.’

David smiled. ‘You’ll probably be surprised by just how much.’