Chapter 8 - CLAIRE'S OWN SECRET|
Claire had almost finished her shift when Luca asked her to meet him in the library.
She arrived expecting questions about Sophie's medication schedule.
Instead, she found him standing beside Caroline's old piano with the blue notebook in his hand.
“Claire, I need to ask you something.”
“Of course, sir.”
“Have you ever seen Vanessa enter Caroline's sitting room when nobody else was home?”
Claire hesitated.
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Several times over the last few months.”
Luca turned toward her.
“Why didn't you mention it?”
Claire lowered her eyes.
“I thought she was looking for something related to the wedding.”
“What did she do?”
“She checked the drawers. Once, she opened the piano bench and searched through the sheet music.”
“Did you ask her what she wanted?”
“Yes.”
“What did she say?”
Claire took a breath.
“She told me that if I wanted to keep my position, I should learn not to question the family.”
Luca's expression hardened.
“Did she threaten you again?”
“Not exactly.”
“Claire.”
She looked at him.
“She said my mother was fortunate to have a daughter willing to work for people like the Morettis. She implied that one phone call could leave my mother without the assistance she needs.”
Luca went still.
Claire immediately regretted saying it.
“I didn't want to cause trouble.”
“You should never have been put in that position.”
She nodded, but her eyes remained lowered.
Luca studied her.
“You protected Sophie even when you thought it might cost you your job. Why?”
Claire looked toward the piano.
“Because I know what it's like to be a child who thinks she has to earn love.”
He waited.
“My father left when I was nine. My mother worked two jobs, and I spent years trying to be the easiest child in the world. I thought if I never asked for anything, never complained, and never made trouble, maybe he would come back.”
Her voice softened.
“He didn't.”
Luca said nothing.
“After my mother fell last winter, I promised myself I would do whatever I could to help her. I couldn't afford to lose this job. But when I saw Sophie crying over her ankle, I remembered how it felt to be afraid of disappointing every adult in the room.”
She looked up.
“I couldn't let her believe that hurting herself was the price of being loved.”
For several seconds, Luca could not answer.
Then he said, “Your job is secure. Your mother's medical assistance will continue through the arrangement already in place, and I will make sure no one uses it to pressure you.”
Claire's expression changed.
“I don't want special treatment, sir.”
“It's not special treatment. It's a correction.”
She nodded.
Luca returned to the notebook.
“Did Vanessa ever mention a man named Daniel Price?”
Claire frowned.
“Not to me.”
“What about the name Richard Bellini?”
“Only once. She was on the phone in the hallway. She said, 'Dad, I told you I would handle the girl.'”
Luca slowly lifted his head.
“When was this?”
“About two weeks ago.”
“Did she say anything else?”
Claire thought carefully.
“She said the wedding needed to happen before you found the original papers.”
Luca felt a chill move through him.
“Did she mention where the papers were?”
“No, sir.”
He thanked her and told her she could return to her duties.
As Claire reached the door, she stopped.
“Mr. Moretti?”
“Yes?”
“Whatever happened between you and Miss Bellini, please don't let Sophie believe she caused it.”
Luca looked at her.
“I won't.”
After Claire left, he called Marco.
“Find Richard Bellini. I want to know where he has been for the last six months.”
Marco paused.
“Sir, Richard Bellini died four months ago.”
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Luca stared at the phone.
“Then who has Vanessa been calling?”
