Chapter 6 - THE SECRET CLARA KEPT FOR PEACE
Julian did not speak for several seconds.
“Told her what?”
Clara folded her arms.
“That Sienna couldn’t use the house for her business anymore.”
“Anymore?”
Julian heard the word.
Clara looked miserable.
“She asked last winter if she could photograph a dining setup here.”
“You said yes?”
“Twice.”
Julian leaned back.
Melissa wisely said nothing.
Clara continued.
“It was supposed to be portfolio photography. No clients. No guests. She brought six vendors the second time and stayed until midnight.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because your mother called me afterward.”
“And?”
“She said Sienna’s business was barely surviving. She said if I told you, you’d cut Sienna off.”
Julian laughed once.
“Apparently everybody thinks they know exactly what I’ll do.”
Clara’s eyes sharpened.
“Because you’ve trained us to.”
That hurt.
Julian let it.
“What did you tell Sienna?”
“That there would be no more commercial use.”
“In writing?”
“Yes.”
Clara retrieved an email.
January 19.
I’m glad the photos helped, but this is our home, not a venue. Please don’t schedule vendors, clients, shoots or events here again without asking me directly first. I’m not comfortable continuing commercial use.
Sienna had replied:
Understood.
Melissa sat forward.
“That’s important.”
Julian looked at Clara.
“Why did you hide this?”
She bristled.
“I didn’t hide it.”
“I didn’t know.”
“Those aren’t the same thing.”
“Clara.”
She stood.
“Do you want the truth?”
“Yes.”
“I was tired of being the person who made you choose.”
Julian frowned.
“Choose what?”
“Me or them.”
“I chose you when we got married.”
Clara shook her head.
“That’s not what I mean.”
She paced slowly because her hands hurt if they hung at her sides too long.
“Every time Sienna needed money, every time your mom overstepped, every time they showed up without asking, I would say something. You’d agree with me. Then you’d explain why this particular time was different.”
Julian opened his mouth.
Clara raised one bandaged hand.
“Sienna’s divorce. Your mother’s surgery. The failed business partnership. Her rent. Her credit card. The holidays after your dad died.”
Every example was real.
Every exception had felt humane at the time.
Together they had become policy.
Clara’s voice softened.
“Eventually it was easier to deal with things myself.”
Julian looked down.
“And last night?”
“I thought you’d made another exception.”
There it was.
Clara had believed the fake message because it sounded like him.
Not cruel.
Avoidant.
Please don’t turn this into a thing while I’m away.
Julian felt shame settle deeper than anger.
Melissa closed her folder.
“You two need to separate the marriage problem from the property problem.”
Clara almost smiled.
“Thank you.”
Melissa left them with a list of steps.
Preserve records.
Notify the three clients that no venue authorization existed.
Do not threaten Sienna publicly.
Do not delete access logs.
Do not pay refunds yet without seeing the contracts.
After she left, Julian took the diamond necklace from his jacket.
He had carried it for two days.
Clara stared at the box.
“What is that?”
“Your surprise.”
He placed it on the table.
Neither opened it.
“Seems stupid now,” he said.
Clara’s face softened.
“No.”
“A little.”
“A little.”
They almost laughed.
Then Julian’s phone rang.
Evelyn.
He answered.
His mother did not say hello.
“Sienna says you’re contacting her clients.”
“We are.”
“You’ll bankrupt her.”
Julian looked at Clara.
“Maybe.”
Evelyn’s voice broke.
“Then what exactly do you expect her to do?”
Julian thought about every check he had written.
Every emergency.
Every time he had prevented his sister from discovering the answer herself.
“For once?”
May you like
He took a breath.
“I expect her to deal with what she did.”
