Chapter 8: The Real Daughter

Caroline introduced me at lunch without introducing Audrey.

Audrey stood beside me holding the little book we'd bought together.

She had been showing me where the easy coastal walk began.

Now she closed it and let Caroline speak.

"Our daughter," Caroline told the woman from her club.

The woman took my hand in both of hers.

"How wonderful to have your real girl back," she said.

I took my hand away.

"Audrey's my sister," I told her.

The woman looked toward Audrey.

"Of course," she said quickly.

"I didn't mean anything."

Caroline smiled toward the dining room.

"Shall we sit?" she asked.

I stayed where I was.

"I'd like Audrey introduced too," I said.

Audrey looked at me, then at the woman.

"We've met," she said.

That made it worse.

The woman had taken the best part of a reunion and used it to erase someone standing beside her.

I didn't want her approval anymore.

"I've known your mother for years," she told Audrey.

"Then you know she has two daughters," Audrey answered.

Caroline touched the woman's arm.

"Let's not make this difficult," she said.

"For whom?" Audrey asked.

Victor arrived carrying a stack of place cards.

He had been trying to arrange the lunch before everyone drifted in.

"What's happened?" he asked.

The woman turned toward him with obvious relief.

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