Deadly Disclosure

Hannah sauntered into the sitting room ahead of him by a few steps, and Derek sniffed the floral perfume of Hannah’s mother and heard her surprised greeting before he made his presence known. When Derek entered, Mr. McClarnon pulled back from a one-armed hug with his daughter, spied him and stiffened, the ice in his crystal glass clinking against the side.

“Evelyn.” He spoke softly to his wife, and she immediately turned from her happy reunion with her daughter.

Mrs. McClarnon ran a hand down her silk skirt and stepped forward, her face masked with the high-society politeness and artificial hospitality of welcoming someone who was beneath their station. She held out her hand. “Derek, isn’t it? Good evening.”

“Ma’am.” Derek crimped her hand, suppressing a grin at the mischievous thought of whether or not he should kiss it.

Hannah’s father cleared his throat, a call to attention. “Well, Mr. Chambers.”

“You remember my name.” A curious look from Hannah skittered around his peripheral vision, but he didn’t make eye contact. He would have some questions to answer, but not yet.

The squeeze on Derek’s hand was tight. A challenge. Derek squeezed back, enough to communicate that he wouldn’t be intimidated but not enough to hurt the older gentleman.

Mr. McClarnon’s eyes burned into Derek’s. “Wish I could say it’s good to see you again, but here you are with my daughter.”

FOUR (#u04e5b02a-2072-5cba-b6ab-ff75cb1dc22d)

How did her father know Derek’s name? Willford McClarnon was an astute businessman—aggressive and perhaps even harsh when the occasion called for it. But Hannah also knew him to be polite and hospitable and loving. He had never even met Derek and, in fact, wouldn’t have known him at all since their high school romance had been a secret. Still was a secret. Wasn’t it?

Hannah shifted from one foot to the other, now uncertain as to what should come next. Would life have been different if they had told her parents? Would they have accepted Derek? Perhaps they should have tried. But one glance at her father, now glaring at Derek and seemingly holding his hand in a death grip, confirmed that their high school decision had been the right one. That old romance was better kept a secret, just as the renewal of her attraction to him should also be kept under wraps. Again and again the thought bounced around her mind: better to get this situation resolved and let Derek go back to wherever he came from.

Her father finally released Derek’s hand and turned toward her mother, placing a protective arm around her. They exchanged a glance, but Hannah couldn’t read their expressions.

“It’s always nice to have a visit from our little girl, even a surprise one.” Her father’s tone held the hidden meaning that she should have called first, arranged a time, allowed them to prepare tea or some sort of refreshment, perhaps on the veranda.

“I’m not sure how nice you’ll think this is, Father.” Hannah couldn’t believe the words coming out of her mouth. She wasn’t being disrespectful, but assertiveness had never been her forte. Perhaps law school had had a positive effect on her confidence. Either that or the news from just an hour ago was enough to embolden her. She pulled her birth certificate from her purse and thrust it toward him. “I have a few questions.”

Her father examined the document for a few seconds, then looked at her with a question of his own in his eyes. “Yes?”

“Derek, a, um, friend from high school who is now in law enforcement, came to the office today and told me that I’m adopted. Adopted, Father! And then the lawyer I work for pulled up my birth certificate and said that the date of issue confirms it.” She pointed at the birth certificate. “Is that what this means?”