“Well,” she added, crossing her fingers behind her. “It’s possible that I may not even be lying. Our father may really be dead.”
Robert’s face furrowed into a frown. “What are you talking about, Mich?”
“Remember I told you Yasmine thinks Dwight may not be our real father? Our real father could be dead, or out there looking for us.”
Robert sighed and shook his head. “Michelle, you need to stop this foolishness. Horrible as he is, Dwight is our father. I would have remembered if it were not so.”
“But you were really little when we moved to New Hampshire, and Mom was already pregnant with me. You could have suppressed a terrible memory. And Mrs. Hayes says he used to act suspicious when he saw our mother talking to her, or anybody else. He practically kept her locked up in the house.”
“You talked to Mrs. Hayes about this?”
Michelle shrugged. “Yeah. She was like a grandmother to us after Mom died.”
“What did she say?”
“She said if I believe there’s a secret to be uncovered, I should go uncover it.”
Robert regarded her quizzically for a moment. “You really believe there’s something out there, Mich?”
“Yes. I mean, look at the way he treated us. He hated us, Robert. Especially me. He accused me of killing our mother. If I can prove he is an impostor, I wouldn’t be so scared of telling Erik about him.”
“This man… Erik means that much to you, Mich?”
“He means everything to me.”
“Okay, little sister. Even though I think it’s a futile cause, I’ll give it some thought and perhaps hire an investigator, just to put your mind at ease. And speaking of Erik,” Robert declared as he looked up at the house, “he’s waiting for you.”
Michelle’s heart leaped at the sight of Erik standing on the porch. He looked appealing in an indigo short sleeve shirt and grey linen slacks. “Come on. You have to meet him.” She threaded her arms through Robert’s and started for the house. The smile in his eyes assured her he’d agreed to keep her little secret, even though he didn’t approve of it.
#p#分页标题#e#
When they reached the porch, Michelle did the introductions.
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Robert stated as he shook Erik’s hand. “Your excellent reputation as a doctor and as an employer precedes you.”
“As does yours as a dentist and big brother,” Erik remarked as he studied the man—Michelle’s brown-eyed, black-haired brother, who almost matched him in height. He and Michelle would have tall children, some with grey gold-speckled eyes, some with brown, some with black...
His eyes wandered to Michelle, dressed in an ankle-length animal print dress with a knotted sarong at the front. She looked like a female leopard, strutting gracefully through the jungle, and he felt like the hunter, the predaceous male in hot pursuit.
He missed her terribly, and he wished...
“...surprised I was when Michelle called last night and invited me to dinner.”
Robert’s hearty laugh dragged Erik out of his daydreams. He chuckled, having no idea what he was chuckling about. “Come on in, Robert. Mrs. Hayes has set out some hors d’oeuvres. We could have a drink until our other guests arrive.” He led the way into the house.
“Other guests? I thought I was the only family you had,” Robert whispered to Michelle.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you, I also invited Yasmine and her nephew, Peter.”
“Yasmine? How is she?”
“You can ask her when she gets here,” Michelle said, wondering at the smile on his face.
“What would you like to drink, Robert?”
“A martini, please. Dry, if it’s available.”
“Coming right up.” Erik made himself busy at the bar.
“Michelle, can you tie my bow in my hair, please?”
Michelle turned at the voice of her ward. “Sure, baby. Come on.”
“You must be Precious.” Robert smiled, crouching down to eye level with the little girl as Michelle fiddled with the long strip of ribbon.
“And you must be Robert.” Precious returned his smile.
“Mr. Carter to you, young lady,” her father stated sternly.
“Robert’s fine with me.”
“She must respect her elders.”
“How about Uncle Robert? I never had an uncle before.”
“And I never had a niece,” Robert said with an animated smile. “Deal?” He held up his hand for a high-five.
“Deal, Uncle Robert.” Precious slapped her palm to his.
“All done.” Michelle almost choked on the words. She turned to the table, laden with goodies, picked up a chunk of cheese and stuffed it into her mouth. The very idea of Precious calling her brother ‘Uncle’ shattered her nerves. If Robert was Precious’ uncle, that made her her mother. And she was her stepmother, so Precious was indeed Robert’s niece—by law. But nobody knew that—nobody but her and Erik.