Don't Say a Word - Barbara Freethy [40]
But that wasn't what she was doing. She wasn't looking for her father at all. She was looking for her mother, for their past, the one they'd shared in the four years before Sarah had married Gino. She wasn't trying to slap her father in the face or make him feel like he'd done a bad job, but she could certainly understand why Liz or even her father might see things differently.
"I spoke to Michael after you left for work today," Liz said, breaking the lengthening silence between them. "He's trying to be patient, but he waited through Mom's illness, the funeral, giving you time to grieve, and now this. How can you ask him to put your relationship on hold again?"
Julia didn't know how to answer. Everything Liz said was true. Michael had been patient. He had waited for her. But was it so unfair to take a couple of days to look into a picture that was bothering her? "Michael and I have the rest of our lives to be together. I'm only asking for a little time," she said. "I haven't even canceled our wedding date yet. It's been two days since I saw that photograph. Can I just have a few minutes to figure out if it should be important to me?"
Liz frowned. "I suppose that's not completely unreasonable. I just don't want you to lose Michael. And I don't want you to create any more problems for our family."
Before Julia could reassure Liz that that was not her intent, the doorbell rang. She got up to answer it, thinking it was Michael. It wasn't.
The flash went off in her face, the light momentarily blinding her.
"Miss DeMarco? I'm Christine Delaney."
Julia blinked as the tall, brunette woman standing in the hall came into focus.
"I must say, I can see the resemblance," Christine added, lowering the camera in her hand. "I've spent most of the day studying your photograph." She slipped the camera back in her bag and pulled out the catalogue from the photography exhibit. It was opened to the page featuring the orphan girl.
Julia swallowed hard, trying to get her wits about her.
"How did you get to this country?" Christine asked.
"I can't talk to you right now." Julia moved to shut the door, but Christine stuck her foot out.
"Wait, don't go. I promise not to bite. I just want to be the one to share your story with the world."
"There is no story."
"There must be. I did some research and found out there was quite a buzz when that photo was first published. A lot of people wanted to adopt you. I'm sure everyone will be interested in knowing what happened to you." Christine offered a warm, inviting smile that was meant to encourage Julia to confess.
"I'm sorry, I can't," she said abruptly. "Please just go away."
"Is that it?" Liz interrupted, grabbing the catalogue from Christine's hands. "Is this the famous picture?" She paused. "Oh, my God." Liz looked from Julia to the photo and back again. Her face turned white, her eyes wide in disbelief.
Very aware that the reporter was watching them with extreme interest, Julia grabbed Liz's arm and pulled her back into the apartment. She managed to shut the door in Christine's face, throwing the dead bolt into place to make sure she couldn't get back in. "Call me when you want to talk," the reporter yelled. "I'm slipping my card under the door. I promise to tell your side of the story."
Julia put a hand to her racing heart as quiet returned to the apartment. Christine was gone for the moment, anyway.
"I get it now," Liz said as she met Julia's gaze. 'This little girl…" She shook the catalogue in her hand. "She looks just like you when you were a kid."
Julia felt an immense relief that Liz finally understood why she was so unsettled. "Michael didn't see the resemblance."
"Maybe