Chapter 14
Claire
Simon sat down and ran his hand through his hair. “Start talking now!” He pointed at me.
“First of all, detective. I don’t like your attitude, so you better chill the fuck out. I’m not the enemy here,” I spewed.
“That has yet to be determined, lady. Start talking.”
“I am not one of your suspects, and you will not sit there and speak to me like that. I know you’re in shock—so was I when I found out—but regardless, you will show me some respect.”
Shaun chuckled.
“Shut the fuck up.” Simon looked at him. “Why now? Why are you just coming to us now with this information?”
“Because I just found out when my mother passed away. My entire life, she told me that my father left when she told him she was pregnant and never came back. After she passed, I was given a letter from her telling me that she lied and that my biological father’s name was on my original birth certificate, which she kept locked away in her safe.”
“So you never had a father figure?” Simon asked.
“There was Joseph. He was a man she met and married shortly after I was born. He was from the States, and when I was two, he moved us here. He raised me as if I was his own.”
“Did you know that the man who raised you wasn’t your biological father?”
“Yes. I found out when I was ten. We were learning about blood types in science and had to do a project showing my blood type, my mother’s, and my father’s. After turning in that project, my teacher asked me if I knew my biological father’s blood type. I had no idea what he was talking about. He explained to me that Joseph couldn’t be my biological father because of his blood type. I went home that day and told my mother what he said. She sat me down, and that’s when she told me that Joseph wasn’t my biological father.”
“Man, I’d be pissed at that teacher,” Shaun said.
“She was, and she got him fired. Anyway, she told me that my real father wasn’t a good man, and he left us when she told him she was pregnant.”
“You never asked her his name?” Simon asked.
“No. I was ten and confused. I had a family and didn’t care about the man who couldn’t be bothered to stick around. But what my mother told me was a lie. She found out she was pregnant with me shortly after Henry left Paris. She followed him here and went to his home. He wasn’t there, but your mother was.”
“Are you saying that my mother knew about you?” Simon’s eyes narrowed.
“After convincing my mother what a terrible man Henry was and telling her about Shaun, she paid her off to leave town and never return.”
“Of course she did.” Simon ran his hands down his face. “Another fucking secret. She promised, Shaun. She promised there was nothing else,” he shouted.
“I wasn’t even going to tell any of you that she knew, but after she threatened me?—”
“Wait a second. My mother threatened you? You confronted her?”
“Yes. We had dinner the other night.”
“What did she say to you?” Shaun asked.
“She told me she did me a favor by keeping my father out of my life.”
“Well, she wasn’t lying.” Simon sighed.
“She also said she did what she had to in order to protect all of you boys. She told me to leave town and to leave you alone. She said if I didn’t, she’d ruin me.”
Simon rolled his eyes as he leaned back in his chair.
“Simon, I think in some way you knew there was something about me. Last night, when we met, you kept staring at me.”
“Because you look like a grown-up version of Nora and a lot like Sebastian.”
“When you walked in with Nora, I felt like I was staring at my child self.”
“She inherited more genes from our family than Celeste’s. Apparently, you did, too, if you are our sister.”
“I’ll be right back,” Shaun said.
A few moments later, Shaun walked back into the kitchen and set a box in front of me.
“This is a 23 and Me DNA kit. I have a guy in the genetics lab at Cedars who can process this right away. It will tell us if you’re a part of our family.”
“You don’t believe me?” I cocked my head.
“It’s not that we don’t. We just need to make sure. We’ve all done the test. It’s no big deal.”
“Honestly, Claire. Our father broke hearts all over the damn world. Anyone could put his name down on a birth certificate,” Simon said.
“I’ve been exactly where you are, Claire. Trust me.” Shaun smiled.
“Shaun, go call your guy and get his ass to the lab now if he’s not there. Claire, do the test,” Simon said. “Once we get the official results, we’ll tell the rest of the family. Fuck, I can’t believe this.” He pushed himself out of his chair. “The man is buried six feet under and still surprises us every fucking day. And my mother.” He pointed at Shaun. “Wait until I get a hold of her.”
“There’s something else you should know, bro,” Shaun said.
“Now what?” He placed his hands on his hips and cocked his head.
“Claire bought the Aubert’s house. She walked up to their door, knocked, and convinced them to sell.”
Simon turned his head and stared at me. “Why the hell would you want that place?”
“Trust me. The entire house is being stripped down to the studs.”
“Maybe you are a Kind. Shaun did the same damn thing before he told us who he was.” A smirk crossed Simon’s lips. “What do you do for work?”
“I was a financial manager for my parents’ insurance company back in Connecticut. I’m currently unemployed at the moment. I’ll be looking for a job soon.”
“And Nick? Did you use him to get to us?” Simon’s eyes narrowed.
“No. He’s my next-door neighbor. We met at the brewhouse, and we’re friends.”
“Bring him along tonight,” Simon said.
“Where?” I asked.
“Sebastian put Karaoke in at the brewhouse. We’re all going there tonight for some drinks and fun.”
“Are you sure you want me there?” I asked.
“Yeah. Why not,” he said.
The sliding door opened, and Ella stepped inside.
“Can I—Claire! What are you doing here?” She ran over and hugged me.
Simon reached over, grabbed the 23 and Me kit, and held it behind his back.
“You told them?” Ella cocked her head at me.
“Told them what?” I smiled.
“That you’re their sister.” She grinned.
“Ella, what are you talking about?” Simon asked.
“I saw you grab the 23 and Me test, Simon. The one you’re hiding behind your back?” Her little brow arched.
“How do you know she’s our sister?” Shaun asked her.
“For one, she looks like all of you, especially Nora. And two, she has a little dimple on her cheek.” She pointed. “Just like Grandpa Henry had.”
“You didn’t know Grandpa Henry, Ella,” Simon spoke.
“I’ve seen tons of pictures of him, Simon. Have you forgotten that my dad has a picture of him and my grandpa Liam at our house? And Lily shows me pictures all the time. She’s his daughter, which makes her your sister. I knew it the second I met her at Four Kinds. Is it okay if I play with the twins, Shaun?”
“Yeah, sweetheart. Go ahead.” He smiled.
Simon stood there and shook his head. “Hey, Ella. You didn’t mention anything to your mom and dad, did you?”
“No.”
“Okay. Please do me a favor and don’t. We’ll tell everyone once the test results come back.”
“I won’t, Simon. I promise.”
“Do you believe me?” I looked at Simon.
“It doesn’t matter whether I do or don’t. I’m a detective, and I need physical proof first.”
“Fair enough.” I smiled. “I’m going to head home. I’ll see you tonight.”