Chapter 3 - Mike Finally Said Lily’s Name
Mike arrived at Eric’s accounting office ten minutes early.
Naya arrived five minutes later.
Claire had not invited her.
“I said come alone.”
Mike looked toward Naya.
“She’s involved.”
Claire almost laughed.
“Apparently everybody is except me.”
Naya sat down carefully, one hand supporting her lower back.
Claire remained standing.
“Who is Lily?”
Mike rubbed both palms over his trousers.
Then he answered.
“My daughter.”
The words were quiet.
Claire still felt them physically.
“How old?”
“Seven.”
Daniel was ten.
Claire did the math immediately.
She and Mike had been married when Lily was conceived.
Naya looked away.
Claire focused on Mike.
“You had a child with another woman while we were married?”
“It happened once.”
“That is not an answer to what I asked.”
“Yes.”
There it was.
Mike explained that Erica had contacted him during her pregnancy.
She wanted no relationship with him, only honesty about paternity and eventually financial support.
A private DNA test after Lily was born confirmed he was her father.
He had been paying support ever since.
“You hid a daughter for seven years.”
“I supported her.”
“Those are not opposites.”
Mike flinched.
Naya interrupted.
“Claire, Lily is taken care of. Erica never wanted drama.”
Claire turned toward her sister.
“How long have you known?”
Naya hesitated.
“Recently.”
“How recently?”
“After we got serious.”
Claire watched Mike.
He did not look at Naya.
That was answer enough.
Their mother called while Claire was still in the parking lot afterward.
“You embarrassed your sister in front of everyone.”
Claire nearly hung up.
“Daniel told the truth.”
“He’s ten. He repeated something he doesn’t understand.”
“He understands that his father has a seven-year-old daughter nobody told him about.”
Their mother sighed.
“Mike made a terrible mistake years ago. Do not destroy Naya’s pregnancy over it.”
Claire stopped walking.
“How did you know it happened years ago?”
Silence.
Her mother recovered quickly.
“Naya told me after the shower.”
But the hesitation remained.
Claire had heard it.
That afternoon Naya sent a message.
I swear I had nothing to do with what happened during your marriage.
Claire read it twice.
May you like
She had never accused Naya of having anything to do with Lily’s conception.
So why had Naya defended herself against a charge Claire had not made?
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