“Yes.”
Claire did not soften it.
He needed the truth, not comfort disguised as truth.
“It should.”
The next morning, Diane arrived at their house.
She did not call.
At 8:12, the doorbell rang.
Luke looked through the security camera.
His mother stood on the porch carrying a shopping bag.
Claire was upstairs helping Ellie get dressed.
Luke opened the door but did not step aside.
Diane smiled.
“Good morning.”
“Why are you here?”
“I brought Ellie something.”
“No.”
Her smile faltered.
“Luke.”
“You need to leave.”
She stared at him.
“You are going to keep my granddaughter from me over yesterday?”
“Yes.”
The answer clearly stunned her.
Diane looked past him into the house.
“Where is Claire?”
“Not your concern.”
“She is behind this.”
“No.”
“She has been trying to turn you against me since you married her.”
Luke laughed softly.
“You really believe that.”
“I know it.”
“You pushed Ellie after she told you not to.”
“It was a joke.”
“You pushed a cake into Kate’s face on Lucy’s birthday.”
Diane became completely still.
Luke watched the color disappear from her face.
“Kate called you.”
“Yes.”
“Of course she did.”
There was not even shame.
Only irritation.
That frightened him.
“What does that mean?”
“It means your sister has spent fifteen years rewriting history.”
“Did she have a daughter?”
Diane glanced toward the street.
“Luke.”
“Did Kate have a daughter named Lucy?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It wasn’t my story to tell.”
Luke stared at her in disbelief.
“You hid the entire pregnancy from me.”
“We protected Kate.”
“From who?”
“People.”
“What people?”
“You were young.”
“I was twenty-two.”
“You were starting your life.”
“And apparently knowing I had a niece would have ruined it?”
Diane became impatient.
“The situation was complicated.”
“No. You made it complicated.”
Her eyes hardened.
“Be careful.”
Luke almost laughed.
There it was.