Chapter 6 - THE WOMAN AT ST. MARY'S|
"THAT'S MY MOTHER."
Clara stared at the photograph until the edges of the screen began to blur.
The woman standing outside the Pennsylvania church wore a gray coat and carried a canvas grocery bag.
There was nothing remarkable about her clothing.
Nothing expensive.
Nothing that suggested she belonged to one of New York's most powerful families.
But her eyes were unmistakable.
They were Clara's eyes.
The same dark lashes.
The same slight downward curve at the corners.
The same expression Margaret Bennett used to call "a face that always looks like it's waiting for someone."
Luca enlarged the photograph.
"Detective Mercer says it came from a church volunteer's social media post."
Clara touched the screen.
"What's the church called?"
"St. Mary's."
"Where?"
"Near Lancaster."
Clara looked up.
"Can we go?"
Luca hesitated.
"I want to."
"Then let's go."
"Clara, we don't know if that woman is Sofia."
"I know."
"And if someone deliberately kept her hidden, showing up without a plan could put her in danger."
Clara lowered her eyes.
The excitement that had risen inside her began turning into fear.
"What if she doesn't want to see me?"
Luca's expression softened.
"Then we'll respect her choice."
Clara nodded.
"But what if she's been waiting for me?"
Neither of them had an answer.
Detective Mercer called a few minutes later.
She explained that investigators were checking the photograph, trying to identify the woman, and contacting the church through proper channels.
Luca listened carefully.
Then he asked whether Clara could accompany him if a meeting became possible.
Mercer said they should first establish that the woman was safe and willing to speak.
Clara heard every word.
For once, she was grateful someone was thinking beyond the excitement of a discovery.
But waiting felt unbearable.
That evening, she returned to the mansion only to collect her belongings.
She had planned to go back to her tiny apartment in Queens.
Luca found her packing a duffel bag in the staff quarters.
"Where are you going?"
"Home."
He looked around the small room.
A narrow bed stood beneath the window.
Two sweaters hung from a hook.
A framed photograph of Margaret and Ben sat beside a chipped ceramic mug.
"You don't have to leave."
Clara folded a pair of jeans.
"I know."
"Then why are you packing?"
She looked at him.
"Because everything here feels different."
Luca remained silent.
She continued quietly.
"Yesterday I knew exactly who I was."
He shook his head.
"You still do."
"Do I?"
She glanced toward the servants' entrance.
"I spent six months being told I wasn't good enough to touch the expensive dishes."
Luca's expression darkened.
"Vanessa had no right—"
"It wasn't just Vanessa."
He stopped.
Clara swallowed.
"Some of the staff were afraid to speak to me because they thought she'd fire them."
Luca nodded slowly.
"I didn't know."
"That's the problem."
Her voice remained gentle.
"You didn't know what happened in your own house."
Luca looked away.
The truth hurt because he couldn't deny it.
He had spent years building businesses and protecting the Moretti name.
He had assumed the people closest to him were safe because he could afford the best security money could buy.
But security cameras hadn't protected his mother from being dismissed.
And a large salary hadn't protected Clara from humiliation.
"I failed you both," he said.
Clara shook her head.
"You can change what happens next."
He looked at her.
"Then I will."
She finished packing.
Luca stepped aside.
"Marco will drive you if you'd like."
Clara smiled faintly.
"Thank you."
"And Clara?"
She turned.
"Whether the DNA results confirm we're related or not, you won't lose your job or your dignity because of what happened."
Her eyes filled.
"I don't know if I can come back to work here."
"I understand."
He paused.
"You don't have to make that decision tonight."
The following morning, Clara received a call from an unfamiliar Pennsylvania number.
She answered while sitting beside Ben's hospital bed.
"Hello?"
A woman's voice spoke softly.
"May I speak with Clara Bennett?"
"This is Clara."
"My name is Sister Catherine."
Clara sat upright.
"I'm calling from St. Mary's Community Outreach Center."
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
"Do you know Sofia Moretti?"
There was a long silence.
Then Sister Catherine said, "I know a woman who has used that name."
Clara closed her eyes.
"Is she there?"
"Not at the moment."
"Is she safe?"
"I believe so."
Clara began crying.
"Please tell her I'm looking for her."
Sister Catherine's voice softened.
"She already knows."
Clara stopped breathing.
"What?"
"Someone showed her a photograph of you yesterday."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
Clara sat completely still.
"What did she say?"
The woman on the telephone hesitated.
"She became very upset."
"Why?"
"She said she was afraid you would be hurt if you came looking."
Clara looked toward Ben.
He had stopped watching television.
"Please," she whispered.
"Can you tell her I don't care about the money?"
Sister Catherine sounded confused.
"What money?"
"The inheritance."
Clara wiped her cheeks.
"I don't want anything from the Morettis."
She took a shaky breath.
"I just want to know if my mother is alive."
Sister Catherine remained quiet.
Then she spoke.
"There's something I think you should understand."
Clara gripped the phone.
"Yes?"
"The woman I know has been living under another name for years."
"Why?"
"She says she's hiding from people who hurt her."
Clara began shaking.
"Has she told you what happened?"
"Not everything."
"Please tell her I'm safe."
Sister Catherine sighed.
"I'll do my best."
Before ending the call, she added something unexpected.
"Clara, do you still have the silver rose?"
Clara touched her necklace.
"Yes."
Sister Catherine inhaled sharply.
"She asked about it."
Clara's tears began falling again.
"She remembers me?"
"She remembers a little girl who was taken from her arms."
The call ended moments later.
Clara stared at the phone.
Ben reached for her hand.
"That was her?"
"Someone who knows her."
He smiled.
"Then she's real."
Clara nodded.
"She's real."
Later that afternoon, Luca arrived at the hospital with Detective Mercer.
Mercer carried a folder containing newly obtained records.
"We have reason to believe the woman in Pennsylvania is Sofia," she explained.
Clara stood.
"Can I see her?"
"We're arranging contact, but there's something you need to know first."
Luca watched the detective carefully.
"What?"
Mercer opened the folder.
"St. Mary's has employment records for a woman named Anna Hale."
She placed a photograph on the table.
It was the same woman from the church.
"Anna Hale has worked there as a volunteer coordinator for eleven years."
Clara frowned.
"Why would my mother change her name?"
Mercer turned a page.
"Because eleven years ago, someone reported that Sofia Moretti had died in a second accident."
Luca went still.
"Another death?"
"According to an insurance claim, yes."
Clara stared.
"Who filed it?"
Mercer paused.
"Richard Bellini."
Luca's expression turned to stone.
"Of course he did."
Mercer continued.
"The claim was withdrawn before payment, but it may help establish a pattern of false reporting."
Clara looked toward the photograph.
"Does she know he's still looking for her?"
Mercer nodded.
"Apparently."
Then she showed them a copy of an anonymous letter delivered to St. Mary's two days earlier.
Its message was short.
THE MORETTI GIRL HAS BEEN FOUND.
IF ANNA CONTACTS HER, BOTH WILL REGRET IT.
Clara felt a chill.
Luca reached for the letter.
"Who sent this?"
"We're investigating."
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Clara lifted her head.
"She stayed away because she thought I'd be safer."
Mercer looked at her.
"That appears possible."
Clara swallowed her tears.
"Then somebody needs to tell her the danger isn't keeping us apart anymore."
Luca shook his head.
"We don't know that."
She turned toward him.
"Then help me make it true."
His expression changed.
He looked at the photograph of Sofia.
Then at Clara.
Finally, he nodded.
"We'll work with the detective."
That evening, a message arrived from Sister Catherine.
It contained only one sentence.
Anna has agreed to speak with you tomorrow, provided the police arrange a safe meeting.
Clara read it three times.
Then another message appeared.
She asked me to tell you something first.
Clara's hands began shaking.
May you like
The next words made her break down.
"I NEVER GAVE YOU AWAY BECAUSE I DIDN'T LOVE YOU."
