Don't Say a Word - Barbara Freethy [94]
Gino gave a helpless shake of his head. "I can't imagine…"
Liz hesitated to voice her next thought, but she couldn't seem to stop it from coming out. "Do you think Mom could have adopted Julia?"
Gino sent her an angry glare. "No," he said firmly. "Absolutely not. It's impossible. They were close, like two peas in a pod, when I met them. And Sarah would have told me if she'd adopted Julia. She was always honest. She never lied about anything. Don't you remember her telling you over and over that the truth would never get you into trouble-only a lie would do that?"
Liz nodded. She remembered that well. Now she couldn't help wondering if different rules had applied to her mother. "There has to be some reason why Julia looks like that girl."
"It's a coincidence," he said, pouring more orange juice. "Julia was four and a half years old when I met her. I would have noticed if she was speaking Russian."
"That's true," Liz said, relieved. "If she was a Russian orphan, she would have been speaking Russian.
Of course. Why didn't I think of that? I feel so much better now."
"Julia did have her own little odd way of talking, though," he said with a fond smile. "And she had an imaginary friend she was always whispering to."
Liz's good mood dimmed. "What do you mean, her own way of talking?"
"She'd jumble up words so sometimes they didn't make sense. It was just a phase she went through. It passed. I'm sure you did the same thing. You know how kids talk."
"Yeah, you're probably right." She stiffened as the buzzer rang in the apartment. "I'll get it." She walked over to the intercom. "Yes?"
"It's Julia. Can you let me up?"
Liz pushed the button and glanced over at her father in time to see him pour more vodka into his glass. She drew in a breath and walked out to the living room to answer the door. She wasn't surprised to see Alex standing behind Julia. The two seemed to be joined at the hip these days.
"Hi," Julia said, offering her a tentative smile. "How are you, Lizzie? I called you a couple of times last night, but you never answered your phone."
"I was busy. I do have a life, too, you know."
"How's Dad?" Julia asked, as she and Alex entered the apartment. "I want to talk to him."
"You better talk to him soon. He's in the kitchen sipping vodka and orange juice."
"It's nine o'clock in the morning."
Liz shrugged. "He's a little bothered by all the turmoil. You know, break-ins, pictures in the newspaper; his oldest daughter searching for her past in Russia, of all places."
Julia's mouth tightened. "You don't have to be sarcastic, Liz. I know this is very upsetting for everyone, especially you and Dad."
"And Michael. He was also drinking last night." Liz sent Alex a sharp look. "You better watch yourself. Julia has a way of driving all the men in her life to drink."
"Liz!"
"I'm sorry, but it's true." Liz felt a twinge of remorse for her harsh words, but she didn't intend to apologize to Julia. Her sister was the one who had stirred up their perfectly happy lives. "What are you doing here, anyway? I thought you didn't want to bring trouble to Dad."
"I don't, but I need to look through Mom's papers."
"Julia, is that you?" Gino asked, as he stumbled into the living room. "Are you all right? I've been so worried."
"I'm fine, Dad." Julia gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Is everything all right here?"
"Life goes on," he said with a fatalistic shrug of his shoulders. His eyes narrowed in on Alex. "Who's your friend?"
"I'm sorry, this is Alex Manning," Julia replied. "His father took the photo of the orphan girl. He's helping me find the truth."
Gino stuck out his hand, and Alex shook it. Liz couldn't believe her father was acting so welcoming. She didn't feel nearly as charitable. As far as she was concerned, Alex Manning was egging Julia on. Maybe