Chapter 13 - The Visit Nobody WantedEleanor arrived at Claire's house on Friday carrying a pink gift bag.

Claire saw her through the front window.

For several seconds, she considered not answering.

Then she opened the door, leaving the security chain in place.

"Eleanor."

"Hello, dear."

"What do you want?"

Eleanor lifted the bag.

"I brought Chloe something."

"She's at school."

"Then I'll leave it for her."

Claire looked at the bag.

A small stuffed swan protruded from the tissue paper.

Chloe collected stuffed animals, a habit Eleanor had encouraged by buying increasingly elaborate gifts.

Ordinarily, Claire would have thanked her.

Today, the sight made her angry.

"You should have called first."

Eleanor smiled faintly.

"I didn't think I needed an appointment to see my granddaughter."

"You do now."

The smile vanished.

"Daniel told me you were upset."

"Did he tell you why?"

"Because you're being encouraged to believe outrageous accusations."

Claire opened the door only enough to step onto the porch.

Then she closed it behind her.

"Chloe told me you removed the rope."

Eleanor looked toward the neighboring houses.

"Lower your voice."

"Why?"

"Because this is a family matter."

"A family matter?"

Claire felt her composure slipping.

"You told a six-year-old child to step toward an unsecured boat. Then you accused the man who caught her."

"That is not what happened."

"Oliver says he saw you."

"Oliver is desperate because his job is gone."

"Chloe saw you too."

Eleanor froze.

Claire watched recognition move through her face.

Not surprise.

Calculation.

"What exactly has Chloe been saying?"

Claire's anger sharpened.

"You're not going to interrogate her."

"I have a right to know what people are putting into my granddaughter's head."

"No, Eleanor. You don't have a right to make her doubt what she remembers."

For a moment, the older woman's face looked almost unguarded.

"Claire, I love that child."

"I believe you."

Eleanor blinked.

"I do."

"Then tell me why she was frightened."

Eleanor looked toward the driveway.

"The boat moved unexpectedly."

"Because the rope was off the cleat."

"It wasn't supposed to move that quickly."

Claire stared.

Eleanor seemed to realize what she had said.

She straightened.

"That's not what I meant."

"Then explain what you meant."

"I meant boats can shift even in calm water."

"But you knew this one wasn't secured."

"Claire—"

"You just said it wasn't supposed to move that quickly."

Eleanor's eyes hardened.

"You're twisting my words."

Claire stepped back toward the front door.

"Please leave."

Eleanor placed the gift bag on the porch.

"Don't punish Chloe because you're angry with me."

Claire looked at the pink bag.

"Don't use Chloe to make me feel guilty."

For a moment, Eleanor seemed about to say something else.

Instead, she walked down the steps and returned to her car.

Claire remained on the porch until the vehicle disappeared.

Then she took the gift bag inside and placed it in a closet.

She would decide later what to do with it.

At school that afternoon, Chloe's teacher approached Claire during pickup.

"Has there been a family disagreement?" she asked gently.

Claire felt an immediate surge of concern.

"Why?"

"Chloe mentioned being worried that she might have made her grandmother sad."

Claire closed her eyes.

The teacher explained that Chloe had become unusually quiet during a classroom activity about families.

She had drawn three adults standing beside a dock.

One was crying.

One was angry.

One had a large smile.

Claire asked which figure was smiling.

The teacher showed her the drawing.

Chloe had labeled the figures with help during the activity.

The smiling adult was Grandma.

Claire stared at the paper.

"Did Chloe say why Grandma was smiling?"

"Only that Grandma smiles when people believe her."

Claire thanked the teacher.

She did not ask Chloe about it in the car.

Instead, they stopped for ice cream.

Chloe ordered strawberry.

Claire ordered coffee.

They sat outside while the sun faded behind the downtown buildings.

After several minutes, Chloe looked up.

"Mommy?"

"Yes?"

"Do grown-ups get in trouble for lying?"

Claire felt the question settle heavily between them.

"Sometimes."

"Even grandmas?"

"Even grandmas."

Chloe thought for a long moment.

Then she asked, "Will Daddy still love her?"

Claire looked at her daughter.

The question revealed a fear Claire had not fully understood.

Chloe wasn't only frightened of the water.

She was frightened that telling the truth might destroy her family.

Claire reached across the table.

"Whatever happens between the grown-ups, sweetheart, you are not responsible for fixing it."

Chloe squeezed her hand.

That evening, Claire received a message from Mara.

The notary's attorney had requested a confidential meeting.

Paige Larkin was willing to discuss the circumstances of the August document.

But she wanted to know whether Claire had already discovered the second agreement.

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Claire stared at the message.

She had no idea what second agreement Paige meant.