Chapter 6: The Woman in the Doorway
Elaine stumbled back.
“I have no account at North County Trust.”
Jeremy folded his arms.
“You just admitted depositing money for me.”
“Cash into your consulting account,” Elaine said.
“Never into one with my name.”
Karen remained on speaker.
“The account was opened online using Elaine Hale’s identification.”
Elaine gripped the chair.
“My wallet disappeared at Christmas.
Jeremy found it in his car two days later.”
“That proves nothing,” Jeremy said.
The doors behind the guests opened.
A woman stood there holding a little girl’s hand.
She looked exactly like the woman in the photograph, only thinner and far more tired.
Ray crossed the aisle.
“Lydia.”
“I couldn’t let you face him alone, Dad.”
Sophie hid behind her mother.
Jeremy looked at the child but did not take a single step toward her.
Lydia noticed.
“She asked all morning whether you would be happy to see her.”
Jeremy glanced toward the guests.
“This is not the place.”
“You made it the place when you tried to marry someone else.”
Florence walked toward Lydia.
“Did you know about me?”
“Not until six days ago.
A notice about your wedding appeared online.”
“Why didn’t you call me yourself?”
Lydia looked at Sophie.
“Because the last time I tried to expose him, Jeremy said he would use my old medical records to take my daughter.”
Jeremy’s voice hardened.
“You were unwell.
I had legitimate concerns.”
“You left me after surgery,” Lydia said.
“Then you told the court I was unstable because I cried when I woke up and you were gone.”
Florence’s knees weakened.
I caught her elbow, but she kept her eyes on Lydia.
“He told me his greatest fear was being abandoned.”
Lydia gave a sad smile.
“He learns your wound, then pretends it is his.”
Jeremy pointed at the doors.
“Take Sophie and leave, or I will file for custody tomorrow.”
Sophie pressed her face into Lydia’s dress.
Ray moved forward, but Lydia raised one hand.
“No, Dad.
Let him speak.”
She took out her phone.
“Say it again, Jeremy.”
“You heard me.”
“Tell everyone why you want custody of a child whose birthday you haven’t remembered in three years.”
“I don’t have to perform for these people.”
“You performed for Florence.”
Lydia tapped the screen.
Jeremy’s recorded voice filled the room.
“If you contact Florence, I’ll make sure a judge sees every medical note.
Keep quiet, and I’ll stay out of Sophie’s life.”
Jeremy rushed forward and knocked the phone from Lydia’s hand.
It struck the floor, and the screen went dark.
Sophie screamed.
Florence stepped between Jeremy and the child.
“Don’t come near them.”
“That recording is gone,” Jeremy said.
Lydia crouched and gathered Sophie into her arms.
“No, it isn’t.
It uploaded while you were speaking.”
Ray picked up the damaged phone.
“You always mistake kindness for weakness.”
Jeremy turned to Elaine.
“Give me the old phone.”
“No.”
“You think they will forgive you?
Lydia despises you.
Florence will blame you.
The authorities will treat you like my partner.”
Elaine’s eyes filled, but she stood beside Lydia.
“Then I will tell them exactly what I did and exactly what you did.”
Florence opened the message thread again.
She scrolled past the exchange about her trust.
“There are other women’s names here.”
Elaine nodded.
“I found folders in his garage cabinet.”
Ray lifted the metal box onto the altar.
Under the bank statements were four envelopes, each marked with a woman’s name.
Lydia stared at them.
“I thought I was the first.”
Florence picked up the final envelope.
Her own name was written across the front, beside a figure of $240,000.
Three envelopes beneath it had already been crossed out.
Elaine looked at Florence.
“You weren’t his second target.”
She placed a fifth envelope on top of the box.
“You were his fifth.”
