Chapter 2 - THE LOCKET
Veronica recovered fast.
Too fast.
"I don't."
"You said don't."
"Because you're upset."
"Sofia called me Daddy."
"Children say strange things."
Sofia pressed against his jacket.
"She told me never to say it."
"Who did?"
The silence answered for her.
"This is absurd."
Alexander crouched.
"Sofia, where did you get this locket?"
"My mom."
"Where is your mom?"
Sofia's eyes filled.
"She died last year."
Alexander felt something twist inside him.
"What was her name?"
"Lucia."
"This is clearly a family issue. I'll leave."
"No."
"Sit down."
Her eyes hardened.
"You don't order me around."
"Then walk out and don't come back."
Maria, the head housekeeper, appeared in the hallway.
She saw the locket.
Then Sofia in Alexander's jacket.
Then Veronica.
Maria whispered, "Oh, God."
"You knew."
Maria's face collapsed.
"I promised Lucia."
"Promised her what?"
"To keep Sofia hidden."
"From me?"
"From your father."
"My father is dead."
"Now he is."
Alexander's stomach dropped.
Nine years earlier, Lucia became pregnant with Alexander's child.
Victor Sterling found out before Alexander did.
He threatened Lucia's mother with deportation, threatened Maria's job, and threatened to take the baby through family court.
"He said Alexander would lose everything if Lucia stayed," Maria whispered.
Alexander's voice was almost gone.
"And the baby?"
"Sofia was born healthy."
He gripped the back of a chair.
"My father told me she died."
Eight years.
Birthdays.
First words.
First steps.
All stolen.
Alexander blocked her.
"How long did you know?"
"I didn't."
"That's a lie."
Maria reached into her apron and pulled out an envelope.
May you like
"Lucia mailed this to me two weeks before she died."
Alexander stared at Veronica's name written across the front.
