“That’s just the beginning,” Ginny says flatly. “She’s bad news, through and through. She has only ever attempted to get in touch with me when she’s needed money. This is a girl who does everything with an ulterior motive.”
“That’s insane,” Kit says.
“Oh yes? And I’ll tell you something else I witnessed tonight, which also seems insane: it’s clear she’s after your ex-husband.”
Kit snorts with laughter, although she saw how Adam looked at Annabel. “Adam may like the look of her, but there’s no way she’s after him. It’s ridiculous to even think it. Not to mention that he’s my ex-husband. She would never ever do that.” But her voice falters. She isn’t sure.
“I don’t believe there is anything that Annabel Plowman wouldn’t do if she decided there was something she wanted, and betraying a newfound sister is the very least of the things she is capable of. Do you know where your credit cards are? Does she have access to your computer? Your bank account? ”
“Oh for God’s sake.” Kit stops the car. “This is the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard. And whatever you think of her, whatever ridiculous things you imagine she’s up to, the fact remains: this is your daughter. A woman you’ve never met, never acknowledged. And what if you’re wrong? I saw real pain in her face tonight. I saw pain, and hurt. Whoever you think she might be, she is still your daughter, and whatever her transgressions of the past, you owe her a chance.”
“Kit, I understand what you’re saying, and perhaps for someone else this would be true, but leopards do not change their spots.”
“At least will you think about it? Think about meeting with her so you can talk it over. Give her a chance. That’s all I’m asking. If you’re right, you never have to see her again.”
“And what about you? ” Ginny demands. “How will you protect yourself ? ”
“Let me worry about that,” Kit says. “Let me worry about what her motives are with me.”
“Please, Kit. Watch her with Adam. It scares me. I know it seems to you like I’m being overdramatic, but this time I’m not. I’m horrified that she’s here. It makes me think she has bigger fish to fry, and I just don’t know what they are. Please, Kit, get her away from you. Get her away from the kids, from Adam. She isn’t like you. She doesn’t operate from a good place. You need to get her out of your life.”
Kit takes a deep breath, as if she is about to say something, and a picture of Adam looking at Annabel, gazing at Annabel, comes into her mind. A feeling of being unsettled, of emotional drama, suddenly overwhelms her and she bursts into tears.
And her mother does something she has never done before: she puts her arms around Kit and squeezes her tight, rocking her gently, rubbing her back.
“How will we know? What are we going to do? ” The frustration and fear trickle down her cheeks in the form of tears while she relaxes into her mother’s arms, for the first time in her life.
“I don’t know,” Ginny murmurs. “We need to talk to Peter. He knows what to do about these things.”
Kit pulls back. “Peter? ”
Ginny smiles faintly. “The man I’m going to marry.” She holds out her left hand, where a huge Asscher-cut diamond sparkles on her fourth finger. “He was supposed to come with me this evening but had to make a detour to Europe for a business meeting. He’ll be here in a couple of days. He’ll know what to do. And I promise you, this will all feel better in the morning. We’ll work it out. Now why don’t you drop me off at the hotel? I’m going to need at least two sleeping pills tonight after this. And you probably will too.”
“I . . . I can’t. Steve’s coming over.”
“Steve? ”
“He was at the dinner. He’s my . . .” She can’t say “boyfriend;” she feels ridiculous calling Steve her “boyfriend.” “He’s someone I’m dating.”
“Well, at least he’ll help you take your mind off it.” Ginny smiles. “But don’t, for heaven’s sake, tell him. Don’t tell anyone anything for now.”
“Even Adam? ”
“I don’t know. Let me think about that one. My gut says do nothing until we talk to Peter. He was the one who found the private investigator for me. Let’s just hold fire until Peter gets here