“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Daria said.
“You are losing it, Daria,” Ellen said.
“I didn’t have anything to do with Shelly being dumped on the beach.”
Daria started to stand up, but Rory caught her arm. She looked at him and must have seen the plea in his eyes, because she dropped into the chair again. When she spoke, her voice was calmer.
“I know this isn’t the time for this,” Daria said.
“I’m sorry I spilled it out this way. But it’s the truth, Ellen, and it’s time you admitted it. I found your pukka- shell necklace lying right next to the baby. I’ve known all along. I didn’t say anything back then because I didn’t want to get you in trouble. But it’s twenty-two years later, and it’s time to own up to the fact that Shelly was yours.”
Rory’s gaze was suddenly drawn to Grace. She looked truly ill, her face more ashen than usual. Even the golden flames from the fire brought no color to her cheeks. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but Chloe spoke first.
“I took Ellen’s necklace that night,” Chloe said.
All heads turned in her direction. Sitting right next to her, Rory could see the resolve in Chloe’s face.
“I borrowed it without her permission,” Chloe continued.
“I never knew what happened to it. I guess it fell off while I was…” Her voice trailed off. She stared into the fire, then looked up again, her eyes glassy and apologetic as she turned to Daria.
“Shelly’s mine,” she said. “Chloe.” Mrs. Wheeler breathed the word in disbelief.
Rory’s mind raced. Sean Macy. The priest had been involved with Chloe for many years, had even managed to help her parents adopt Shelly. No wonder he had killed himself when Rory was trying to uncover Shelly’s parentage. He rested his hand lightly on Chloe’s arm.
“Yours and Sean’s,” he said softly, not wanting anyone else to hear.
“No,” she said in a whisper. The piercing look in her eyes was meant just for him, and it sent a chill down his back.
“Not Sean’s,” she said.
Rory went numb as he realized what she was telling him.
“Chloe,” Daria said.
“I don’t understand.” And Rory knew she understood even less than she thought.
“Where’s Shelly?” The voice came from the beach, and Rory turned to see Andy approaching the bonfire.
For a moment, no one said a word; Chloe’s admission had stolen their voices.
“She’s down there with the youngsters.” Mr. Wheeler pointed toward the second bonfire.
“No, she’s not,” Andy said.
“I was just down there. She was with them, but Zack said she went in for a swim. He thought she might have come out of the water up here to be with you guys.”
“A swim in the dark?” Daria got to her feet.
“She knows better than that.”
Rory stood up.
“Zack!” he called, waving toward the huddled group down the beach.
“What?” Zack called back.
“Come here!” Rory said.
Zack must have heard the urgency in his voice, because he came over to the adults’ bonfire at a jog.
“When did Shelly go into the water?” Daria asked.
“I don’t know.” Zack shrugged.
“Maybe five or ten minutes ago? I thought she was just taking a dip and planned to come out up here by you. She was saying some strange things.”
“Like what?” Daria asked.
“She told me… she said she wanted you to be able to go to California with Dad. She said you wouldn’t have to worry about her anymore, or something like that. I wasn’t sure if that was something you were actually thinking about doing or if she was just, you know, like fantasizing or something. Because then she said she was sorry about the pilot. I don’t know what pilot she’s talking about. I wasn’t paying much attention to her. She” — “She overheard us.” Daria pressed her fist to her mouth and looked at Rory.
“Our conversation on the porch. I thought she was asleep.”
Rory thought back to that conversation, imagining how it had sounded to Shelly’s sensitive ears.
“I’m sure she planned to swim up here to you guys, because she said goodbye to us,” Zack said.
“I mean, like a real goodbye, like she was leaving us for the night.”
“Or forever.” Rory grabbed his son’s arm.
