Don't Say a Word - Barbara Freethy [118]
"You remember her?" Alex asked.
"Just that. I think I've dreamed about her, but I always thought I was dreaming about me. That's j weird, isn't it?"
"You'll probably remember more now," Alex told her. "You suffered a huge trauma, being ripped from your home, your parents, your country. It's no wonder you blocked it out."
She directed her attention back to Charles. "You said Brady doesn't know where Elena is. Do you? Or does Stan know?"
"It could be dangerous for you to find her."
"According to you, I'm already in danger just by virtue of being alive."
He tipped his head in acknowledgement. "True. All right. I know that your sister goes by the name Elaine Harrigan. At one point she was a ballet dancer with a Washington DC ballet company. Maybe that will help you find her."
"How do you know that?"
"Sarah found her about ten years ago. I don't know how or what she ever intended to do with the information. She only said she was worried because Elaine was in ballet and someone might connect her to her famous mother."
Her sister was a ballet dancer. Another surprise, and yet it seemed right. She studied Charles, wondering why he'd decided to come clean. "Why?" she asked. "Why tell me now?"
"Alex is a grown man. You're a grown woman. It's your turn to make your own decisions." Charles's gaze focused on Alex. "Will you tell your mother about me?"
"I have to," Alex replied. "She deserves to know the truth."
Charles pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and pushed it across the table. "This is where I'll be if you want to talk to me, or if your mother does."
"I thought you were supposed to disappear again."
"I was. Brady won't be happy that we met, but I couldn't desert you a second time, Alex. I understand that you may never forgive me for what I did. But I know in my heart that I did what I believed was right. And I still believe it. You might have grown up without a father, but you lived, and you have a good life now. I've read a lot about you, everything I could get my hands on. You've made me proud."
"You should have come to me sometime in the last twenty-something years," Alex said harshly. "You should have found a way to tell me you were alive."
"I didn't think I had the right. You'd moved on. If you or your mother want to talk now, that's where I'll be. I'll leave it up to you."
"Mom will probably come after you with a gun," Alex said, but he put the piece of paper in his pocket.
"How is she?" Charles asked.
"She's divorced again, her third. She seems to have developed a fondness for her memories of you. She's been publicizing your photos all over town. In fact, your work is part of an exhibit at the Legion of Honor. But you probably already know that. You've been so close to us all these years."
"I started out across the country, but I eventually made my way back to San Francisco. In the beginning I wanted to watch over you."
"You watched me?" Alex asked, a rough edge to his voice.
"A few times. Enough to know you were all right."
"Yeah, I was fine. Just fine." Alex rose. "I think we're done here. Julia?"
"Just one last question," she said. "Did Sarah ever consider telling me the truth?"
"No." Charles looked her straight in the eye. "Sarah was afraid you would hate her for what she'd done. She told me she'd do everything she could to make sure you were happy and that you never lacked for anything, especially a family. She would make certain you were surrounded by love."
"I was," Julia said quietly. And now she had to wonder if Sarah had ever loved Gino, or if he'd just provided the family she so desperately needed to make the illusion complete.
An hour later Alex pulled off at the exit just before the Bay Bridge and turned into a hotel parking lot. He didn't stop driving until they had gone to the far side of the building, completely hidden from the freeway.
"What are you doing?" Julia took a quick look over her shoulder. "Is someone following us again?"
"No, but we can't go back to our apartments. They