The Heiress Strikes Back novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: The Founders' Dinner

The Founders' Dinner was held in the ballroom of the Westport inn, under three chandeliers.

Three hundred people sat at round tables with white cloths.

Every one of them worked for Brightwell Markets, or wanted to, or owed it money.

Mrs. Brightwell had put me at her own table, in a borrowed green dress with the tags tucked inside.

Mr. Brightwell had not looked at me once.

Peter sat beside me in a dark suit that fit him badly, with his hand under the tablecloth around mine.

Lorna sat at the head table in white.

Her mother sat three seats away in grey silk, with a smile I knew very well.

I had spent twenty-four years learning that smile.

It meant she was winning.

At nine o'clock Mr. Brightwell rose and tapped a glass.

The room hushed.

"Twenty-four years ago," he said, "I lost my daughter from a lake cottage in August."

His voice was rough.

"I hired every investigator in the state. I spent two million dollars and most of my sleep. And two months ago, a letter came."

He held out his hand toward Lorna.

"Tonight I want you all to meet my daughter."

The room stood up and applauded.

Lorna rose too, glowing, wiping at her cheeks.

"Thank you," she said into the microphone. "I don't know what to say."

She looked down at her new mother.

"Mom, I wanted to give you something. I've been thinking about it all week."

Mrs. Brightwell sat very still.

Lorna closed her eyes and began to hum.

Four notes up.

Three down.

A slow turn home.

I went cold from my scalp to my heels.

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