Ablett closed the last report with a blank expression. “Nothing unusual,” he said.
He handed the papers to his male assistant. “Destroy these.”
The assistant obeyed immediately.
Blanche, however, placed her hand on the report before it could be taken away. “Is there a problem?”
Ablett caught her hand in his. The assistant, quick on the uptake, retrieved a velvet ring box from his pocket and opened it to reveal a striking emerald ring.
Ablett slipped the ring onto Blanche’s finger.
Blanche held up her hand, examining the ring. “But I already have a plain silver band. Isn’t one enough?”
“Some people just don’t notice the obvious,” Ablett replied dryly.
He handed the documents back to the assistant and stood to open the hospital room door for Blanche–something he had never done for anyone else.
Blanche paused, her lips curling into a smile. “Director–General, was that supposed to be a joke?”
She let out a laugh, though it was more out of politeness than amusement.
Truthfully, his humor was rather ice–cold.
She stepped into the corridor, but before she could take another step, Ablett bent down and swept her up into his arms.
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Director–General, my ankle’s fine now. I can walk on my own.”
He gazed down at her delicate features.
Why is it that someone else can hold you, but I can’t? The words stuck in his throat. “My mother’s waiting downstairs,” he said instead.
The assistant chimed in,/“Miss Griffiths has been through a terrible ordeal. Of course, Director–General should take extra care of his wife. A husband oug‘
attentive.”
o be
Blanche wrapped her arms around Ablett’s neck without protest. “Then I’ll lean on
134413
you for a while,” she murmured.
With his tacit approval, she nestled her face against his chest. Being dragged away by Eddy had frightened her deeply. Even now, her heart was still pounding with lingering fear.
But in Director–General’s arms, she felt safe at last.
When the elevator doors slid open, Wilhelmina Lopez and Rebekah were waiting just outside.
“Are you alright?” Wilhelmina asked, her tone concerned but brisk, as if wary of showing too much warmth toward Blanche because of her checkered past.
“I’m alright, Aunt Wilhelmina,” Blanche replied warmly, unfazed by Wilhelmina’s chilly demeanor.
“Eddy’s gone too far this time. I’ve already asked your father to step in. We’ll make sure he pays for this,” Wilhelmina said as she strode forward.
Ablett shot Rebekah a glance, then followed his mother with Blanche still in his arms. “Let the police handle it,” he said calmly. “Otherwise, people will say the McCarthy family is throwing its weight around.”
Wilhelmina pursed her lips but didn’t argue. “But how did she know where Laney was? Unless Eddy has someone planted in the house–or he’s had someone following her all along?”
The thought sent a chill through the group.
Rebekah paled, quickly falling in step behind them.
Wilhelmina turned to her. “Rebekah, you shouldn’t associate with people like that anymore. They’re dangerous.”
Rebekah nodded, subdued.
So Blanche hadn’t betrayed her after all?
Outside, rain was still pouring down in sheets. Ablett, holding Blanche, stood out in the hospital lobby–drawing stares from everyone around.
After all, the people who came here for treatment were all rich or important.
Someone recognized Mrs. McCarthy–Wilhelmina Lopez.
“That must be Mr. McCarthy and his fiancée.”
“Isn’t this the McCarthy family all over today’s news?”
“It has to be.”
“I thought maybe it was just some cousin from the extended family.”
“How did Gaylord and Mrs. McCarthy let a divorced woman into the family?”
“Who knows what kind of tricks she used?”
Hedwig pulled Tia out of the crowd. The plainclothes police officers at the entrance started to stop them, but seeing the young girl, stepped aside, thinking perhaps she needed help.
“Sis–in–law, can I have a word?” Hedwig called out, using the familiar address, which made everyone pause and look at Blanche.
Suddenly, Blanche felt awkward being cradled in Ablett’s arms and tried to get down.
Ablett wouldn’t let her. “It’s filthy here.”
The rain had tracked mud and water inside, leaving the floor messy and slick.
But she wasn’t a child.
“Let them come here,” Ablett finally relented.
So Blanche remained in his arms.
Hedwig approached. “It’s been a while, sis–in–law.”
Tia blinked her big eyes, searching her memory. After a moment, she blurted, “Aunt Blanche! You’re Aunt Blanche!”
She’d only been four when Blanche left–the memories were fuzzy.
“Aunt Blanche, I missed you so much. Healy missed you, and Uncle missed you even more,” Tia said innocently, unaware of the complicated adult drama swirling around them.
Everyone’s expressions changed at those words.
Hedwig, realizing her mistake, quickly pulled Tia close. “Sis–in–law, whatever my brother did, you have every right to be angry. But Healy was just a child then.”
ult.” “All those things he did he was manipulated by the adults. It wasn’t h Hedwig’s voice trembled. “Healy was thrown into a foster home by my brother and left to fend for himself. The past three years haven’t been easy for him.”
12.44
