Don't Say a Word - Barbara Freethy [79]
"I think Michael has a point. Without you, the story has no teeth," Liz added.
How could she fight both of them? Julia wished Alex hadn't left. She could have used another person on her side. "I'm sorry," she repeated, with a helpless wave of her hand, "but I can't stop. The reporter told me today that she spoke to someone who worked at the orphanage in Russia. She's digging deep and digging fast. She's determined to solve the mystery of that little girl with or without me. Even if I do nothing, she's moving forward. I need to stay ahead of her, just in case…"
"In case what?" Liz asked.
She drew in a breath. "In case I have to protect Mom's reputation."
"What does that mean?"
"I'm not sure yet, but there's a good chance that Mom and I were in Russia when that picture was taken."
Liz's gaze darkened with some emotion. "How do you know that? Do you have proof?"
"I'm working on it."
"What did the person at the orphanage tell the reporter?" Liz asked. "Could she identify you?"
"No, apparently she just said that the employees were threatened with death if they spoke of the girl at the gates."
"Oh, come on. That's a little dramatic, isn't it?" Michael scoffed.
Julia tipped her head at the mess surrounding them.
"And this isn't dramatic? I think someone made very powerful statement here today." L He couldn't argue with that. "All right. What are you going to do next?"
"Start cleaning, I suppose," Julia replied.
"You can't stay here. You'll have to come to my apartment. We'll go from there."
"There's no room at your place. You're living with your brother. And what about Liz?"
"Yeah, what about Liz?" her sister echoed again.
"You can stay with your father," Michael told Liz. He glanced back at Julia and shook his head. "And you-I guess I might as well tell you this now. I was going to wait until it was ready-until you were ready-but since you need a safe place to stay…"
"What are you talking about?" Julia asked, confused again.
"I'm going to start cleaning up the bedroom," Liz said, interrupting them. "I'll be in the other room if 1 anyone needs me."
Her sister certainly seemed eager to be gone all of J a sudden. "You don't have to leave," Julia said.
"Yes, I do," Liz said with a nod. "Believe me, 11 do." She hustled out of the room, making a point of closing the bedroom door behind her.
Julia turned back to Michael. "What is it? What do I you want to tell me?"
He took a moment, then said, "I bought us a house, Julia. Near the Marina. It has two bedrooms and a I garden. You're going to love it."
His words came out in a rush. She blinked, sure she 1 hadn't heard him correctly. "Excuse me? What did you just say?"
"I think you heard me."
"I don't think I could have," she said with a definite shake of her head. "You better say it again."
"All right." His chin lifted and his shoulders went back as he said, "I bought us a house, Julia, a place for us to raise our children and grow old together. It's what you've always wanted. It's your wedding present."
Stunned by his words, she didn't know what to say, how to react. It was all too much. The day had been one bad surprise after another.
"Say something," Michael instructed.
"What should I say? I can't believe it. You bought us a house?"
Michael's brown eyes lit up with eagerness as he grabbed her shoulders. "It's great, Julia. It's a fixer-upper, which is the only way I could afford to buy in that neighborhood. There's a school nearby, about three blocks away. You'll be able to walk with the kids. And the recreation center is close by. You can take your yoga classes there, and I can play in the basketball leagues. It's the perfect place for us to start our life together."
"I already go somewhere for yoga," she said, not sure why it seemed important to tell him that in the face of everything else he'd said.
"So maybe you'll change your mind, and switch to the rec center. I can't wait to show you the house. I wanted it to be completely done before I did. But this is better. You can help me fix it up the way you want it."
"Does it matter