“Well, no. I didn’t. It was so amazing, and . . .” Cameron remembered she’d been exhausted and Shelly had come in and spoiled things. “She was exhausted and went to bed.”
“You must have thanked her profusely. I mean it’s not every day you get the granddaughter of such a famous artist to do your daughter’s bedroom.”
“Are you talking about the person who painted the room? The mural on top of the bed was signed by M. Fairchild,” he said and sat back and looked up at the ceiling. “She had Sofia Fairchild’s granddaughter paint the room,” Cameron realized.
“You’re an idiot. You come so close, and then you blow it,” Sam said, disgusted. He really thought Jenna had led him right to the truth.
Dinner was cleared away and people were starting to mill around. The curtain for the paintings was closed and people were moving in that direction, waiting for the display to be revealed.
Sam’s cell phone vibrated, and he looked at the caller ID. “I believe this call is for you, Emma.” He handed her the phone.
“Hello.”
“Hello, Sugar Bug.”
“Marti.” Emma sat up on her uncle’s lap.
“I’m coming to see you tonight, just like I promised.”
“You always keep your promise. I knew you’d be here tonight.”
“That’s right, Sugar Bug. Uncle Sam is going to come and get me. I’ll meet you by the paintings. You stay with Aunt Jenna. Okay?”
“Okay. I’ll see you by the paintings.”
She handed the phone back to Uncle Sam, jumped off his lap, and took Aunt Jenna’s hand.
“Jack and Tyler are going to make sure you behave yourself,” Sam warned. “You’re in for the shock of your life. Everything you know about Marti is about to be blown to shreds. She tried to show you who she is as a person. Now you’ve left her no choice but to show you who she is to the world. That hurts her more than anything you’ve already done to her. You’ve accused her of a lot of things. None of them were true. You’re an idiot, and she’s about to prove that to you too.”
Sam left the table and went to a side entrance and waited for Jenna and Emma to make their way to the curtain by the paintings.
The curtain opened and everyone in the room saw the display, a set of paintings depicting a child from the age of about three until about twelve. The little girl had dark, wavy brown hair and the greenest eyes. Each painting showed the girl in different poses and scenes.
Cameron thought the little girl looked familiar. Very familiar. A shiver danced up his spine, but before he could really put his finger on it, Jack leaned over and said, “You wanted to know who Marti is, watch Sam at the door. You’re about to get your answer.”
Chapter Forty-Five
* * *
JENNA PICKED UP Emma and put her on a chair next to a covered painting. Jenna stood next to her with a microphone. Emma didn’t like all the people watching her, but Marti was coming soon and she’d stay with her.
“Ladies and gentleman. As you can see, the paintings we have here tonight are the wonderful creation of world famous artist Sofia Fairchild. The paintings are of her granddaughter, Martina Fairchild. The series was named simply, ‘Martina.’
“As promised, her granddaughter is here with us tonight to present Emma with a special gift. She was taught to paint by her grandmother from the time she was three when she came to live with her grandparents after her parents’ death.”
Cameron sat back, reeling. This was Marti’s story. “Oh my God, Marti is Martina Fairchild.” Cameron had no idea. It was right in front of him the whole time. She’d done Emma’s room and even signed her name. Everyone had given him hint upon hint and he just didn’t put it together.
“Welcome to the party. It’s about time you showed up,” Jack said snidely.
“I can’t believe I’ve been living with the richest woman in the state,” Shelly said, surprised. “She seemed like such a normal, ordinary person.”
“Because you thought she was just Marti. Now you know she’s a Fairchild, so you look at her in a completely different way. She’s rich and powerful and has the world at her fingertips, and that’s all you see.”
Jenna’s introduction continued. “Although she is an accomplished painter in her own right, she’s never before shown any of her paintings like this.