Chapter 4 — Why Emma Never Named Oliver
Claire crouched beside Emma.
“Sweetheart, why didn’t you tell us Oliver pulled the cloth?”
Emma looked toward the hallway.
“I tried.”
Claire frowned.
“Who did you tell?”
Emma pointed toward Elise.
The event assistant had remained several feet away.
Now everyone looked at her.
Elise’s face went pale.
Richard called her over.
“What did Emma tell you?”
Elise hesitated.
“She said Oliver was under the table.”
Victoria stared.
“You knew?”
Elise immediately shook her head.
“I didn’t know exactly what happened.”
Claire’s voice sharpened.
“But you told Victoria Emma had been beside the display.”
“She was.”
“After it started falling.”
Elise looked down.
Richard asked:
“Why didn’t you mention Oliver?”
No answer.
Victoria stepped forward.
“Elise.”
Finally she spoke.
“Because I was supposed to be watching him.”
The room went quiet again.
Oliver’s parents had been delayed.
Victoria asked Elise to keep an eye on him until they arrived.
Elise agreed.
Then the gala became busy.
A caterer needed help.
A donor wanted a seating change.
Someone complained about parking.
Elise left Oliver alone for several minutes.
When she returned…
the display was damaged.
Emma was beside it.
And Oliver was running away.
“You knew he might have been involved,” Richard said.
Elise nodded.
“Yes.”
“But you let Victoria believe Emma did it.”
Elise’s eyes filled.
“I panicked.”
Victoria looked furious again.
“You lied to me.”
Claire immediately turned toward her.
“Careful.”
Victoria looked at Claire.
“Excuse me?”
Claire pointed toward Emma.
“You don’t get to act like this began with Elise.”
Victoria stopped.
Claire continued.
“She withheld information.”
“That was wrong.”
“But you were the person who saw a crying child, refused to ask what happened, and poured a bucket over her.”
Victoria’s face changed.
There was nowhere to redirect that responsibility.