Chapter 5 — Why Claire Hid It That Morning
Michael looked toward Claire.
“You said I came home early.”
She nodded.
“What were you actually doing?”
Claire opened her phone.
An email was displayed on the screen.
Subject:
RE: JUNE MERCER — CLASS OF 1977
Claire had finally found her.
Not through social media.
Through the high school’s upcoming fiftieth-anniversary reunion committee.
June Mercer had married.
Her name was now:
June Mercer Ellis.
She lived in Maine.
And she had agreed to return for the reunion next month.
“I was going to contact her,” Claire explained.
“Today?”
“Yes.”
Claire had taken out the bracelet.
Photographed the engraving.
Then started writing an email explaining Helen’s discovery.
Emma wandered into the kitchen and saw it.
She asked what Claire was doing.
Claire became emotional.
She didn’t want to explain Helen’s old accusation to a child before speaking with June.
Then Michael’s car pulled into the driveway.
“Why hide it from me?”
Claire looked ashamed.
Because months earlier, Michael had asked why she never wore Helen’s bracelet.
Claire lied.
She said she was afraid of damaging it.
She had never told him about June.
“I was embarrassed that I’d kept Grandma’s secret for so long.”
Michael shook his head.
“And then you accused Emma?”
Claire’s eyes filled.
“I panicked.”
“You could’ve said anything else.”
“I know.”
“You made her cry to protect yourself from an uncomfortable conversation.”
Claire nodded.
There was no justification.
Only the truth.
She had repeated the exact behavior Helen regretted.
Fear.
Certainty.
Then an innocent person carrying the consequence.