by Joy Fielding
—
“You should have told him to fuck off,” Michelle said later.
“Yes, it’s always a good idea, telling a reporter to fuck off,” Hunter said.
“Sometimes it’s just better to take the high road,” Caroline said.
They were gathered in her living room, waiting for Beth to arrive. Her plane had landed half an hour earlier, and she’d called Lili as soon as she cleared customs to tell her she was on her way. Lili had, in turn, told her about the growing number of media surrounding the house and asked whether she was responsible for their presence, something Beth vehemently denied.
“Is it true Samantha’s come home?” a reporter had shouted at Hunter as he was climbing out of his BMW.
“When will you get the DNA results back?” another demanded as Caroline opened the door and pulled him inside.
“Did Wainwright say who tipped him off?” Hunter asked now.
Caroline scoffed. “And betray a source?”
“There’s a cab coming down the street,” Lili announced from the window.
Caroline, Hunter, and Michelle immediately jumped to their feet in anticipation. They took a collective deep breath as the taxi pulled to a stop in front of the house and a woman emerged from its backseat.
Lili turned toward Caroline. “It’s her.”
Beth Hollister looked exactly like the photograph Lili had shown her—which meant she looked nothing at all like Lili, Caroline was thinking as she ushered the clearly distraught woman into the foyer. She was wearing a heavy black wool coat and carrying the same style overnight bag that Lili had brought with her a few days earlier. Her hair was thick and dark, more frizz than curl, and she was deathly pale. Whether this was the result of the Calgary winter or the clamoring horde of reporters that had descended upon her like a cluster of angry bees as she exited her cab, snapping pictures and flinging questions at her head like pebbles as she ran up the front walk, was impossible to tell. She lowered her bag to the floor, fear-filled brown eyes blinking rapidly as she looked around for Lili, then brimming over with tears when she saw her, and finally closing with relief as Lili rushed into her arms.
Caroline felt a pang of jealousy as she watched the two embrace. She fought the proprietary urge to jump between them and force them apart.
“Are you all right?” Beth asked Lili, smoothing some stray wisps of hair away from her forehead and holding her face in her hands.
“I’m okay. How about you?”
“About what you’d expect, under the circumstances.”
“How are Alex and Max?”
“They’re okay. Confused, of course. They don’t understand how you could just take off like that.”
Caroline inched forward. “Mrs. Hollister,” she said, about to extend her hand when she realized that Beth wasn’t about to release her grip on Lili. “I’m Caroline Shipley. This is my ex-husband, Hunter, and our daughter, Michelle. I’m so sorry about the scene out front.”
“I don’t understand. What are all those people doing here? Why would you think I called them?” Beth looked from Caroline to Hunter to Michelle, then back to Caroline.
“We didn’t know what to think,” Caroline said.
“If you didn’t call them, who did?” Michelle asked.
The question lingered in the air, like a stale cooking odor.
“It doesn’t really matter,” Hunter said. “It’s a moot point. Someone obviously tipped the vultures off and they’re not going away anytime soon.”
“This is such a nightmare,” Beth said.
“Can I take your coat?” Caroline offered.
“No, thanks. We won’t be staying long.”
Caroline glanced uneasily in Hunter’s direction, anxious at Beth’s use of the word “we.” “Why don’t we go into the living room where we can talk?”
Beth remained rooted to the spot.
“Come on, Mom,” Lili urged gently, and Caroline felt another stab of anxiety. “You came all this way.”
“I came to take you home.”
“Please,” Caroline said. “Surely you can stay a little while.”
“I told the cabdriver to come back in half an hour.”
“Which doesn’t give us a whole lot of time,” Michelle said as they proceeded into the living room.
“Have you had anything to eat?” Caroline asked. “Can I get you some tea or coffee?”
“Some tea would be nice,” Beth said, unfastening the top button of her coat. “If it’s no trouble.”
“I’ll make it,” Lili offered.
“I’ll do it,” Michelle said. “How do you take it?”
“Milk and a little sugar, thank you.”
“Anybody else?”
“I’ll have some,” Caroline said. “Just a tiny bit of milk.”
“I know how you take your tea, Mom.”
“Why don’t we sit down?” Hunter said, as if he still lived here.
Caroline and Hunter lowered themselves into the chairs as Lili and Beth, their hands still intertwined, positioned themselves on the sofa.
“You have a lovely home,” Beth said.
“Thank you.”
“And such a beautiful tree.” She nodded in its direction.
“Lili helped decorate it,” Caroline said, watching the tiny white lights sparkle. She’d pulled the drapes shut earlier in the afternoon in an effort to keep prying eyes at bay. The result was that the room, normally airy and bright, felt small and claustrophobic. The tree helped liven things up a bit. “Are you sure I can’t take your coat?” she asked.
“I’m fine, thank you.”
“How was your flight?” Hunter asked.
“Not bad once we finally got off the ground.”
“Yes, I understand there was quite a storm.”
Really? Caroline thought. We’re talking about the weather?
“We had to wait on the tarmac for more than two hours. They had to keep de-icing the plane. It was touch and go there for a while whether we’d actually take off.”
Her voice was deep, almost husky, nothing at all like Lili’s.
Caroline scanned Beth’s face for anything that might connect her to the girl at her side, but found nothing that matched up. Their eyes were different colors, their noses different shapes. Beth’s jaw was round and delicate whereas Lili’s jaw was square and more sharply defined. Hunter’s jaw. Caroline stole a glance at her former husband, wondering if he was thinking the same thing.
“The weather here is always so perfect,” Lili was saying. “Sunshine every day.”
“I would imagine that could get quite monotonous,” Beth said.
“There are worse things,” Hunter said with a smile.
“Yes,” Beth agreed. “And, unfortunately, this is one of them.”
So much for the weather, Caroline thought. “Believe me, I understand how difficult this must be for you,” she said.
“No more difficult than I’m sure it is for you. Having to relive such a painful time in your lives, having your hopes raised.” She took a deep breath, releasing it slowly. “But they’re false hopes. And it’s just so unfortunate. You don’t deserve this. You’ve been more than kind, more than understanding, listening to this nonsense, indulging Lili’s fantasies…”
Caroline looked toward Lili. “I think she just wants to find out the truth. I think that’s all any of us wants.”
“The truth is that Lili is not your daughter,” Beth said firmly. “I know that’s not what you want to hear. I know that’s not what you want to believe. I know you’d give anything if she were yours. And I know I’d feel exactly the same way if our situations were reversed. But I’m telling you—Lili is not Samantha.” She forced Lili’s face to hers, her fingers resting on Lili’s chin, the chin that was situated in the middle of Hunter’s jaw. “You are my child, my flesh and blood. And I’m sorry if you think I’ve failed you in some way…”
“You haven’t failed me.” Tears began streaming down Lili’s cheeks.
“Then why are you doing this? Why are you punishing me?”
“I’m not trying to punish you.”
“Do you have any idea how insulting this is? That my own daughter questions my word? That she’s all but called me a liar?”
“I’m not calling you a liar.”
“Then stop this insanity right now and come home with me.”
“Mrs. Hollister—,” Hunter began.
“Come back to Calgary,” Beth repeated, ignoring him. “Forget all this foolishness. These people are not your family. This man is not your father. This woman is not your mother. I’m your mother and I love you. You have to believe me. You are my child and I’ve loved you from the first moment I laid eyes on you.”
“I love you, too.”
Caroline felt an invisible hand reach into her chest and tear at her heart. The pain was so strong she almost cried out.
“Then get your things and let’s get out of here. Please. Your brothers are very anxious. First their father dies, and then you take off without a word. They think they did something wrong. They miss you.”
“I miss them, too.”
“I know this past year has been hard for you. It’s been hard on all of us since your father died. And maybe I haven’t handled things very well. I know I’ve been impatient and angry a lot of the time, that I haven’t given you the attention you need, the attention you deserve. I also understand that you’re a big girl now, that you want more freedom, and I’ll give you that freedom. I promise…”
“Mrs. Hollister…”
Beth swiveled toward Caroline and Hunter. “We’ve inconvenienced you quite enough already. I really can’t thank you enough for your patience and hospitality. But things have gotten way out of hand. They’ve gone too far and lasted too long. And I have to insist that Lili and I leave here immediately.” She rose to her feet, pulling Lili up with her.
Caroline was on her feet as well. “Beth, please. I know this whole episode is as unsettling, as surreal, for you as it’s been for us. I understand your indignation, your outrage, your desire to return home as quickly as possible. But we’re only talking about a few more days. Once we get the DNA results back from the lab, we’ll know for sure…”
“I already know for sure.”
“I don’t,” Lili said, wiggling out of Beth’s grasp.
“Lili, for God’s sake.”
“I’m sorry,” she cried. “I just can’t go home with you. Not yet.”
Caroline heard footsteps approaching and turned to see Michelle standing in the doorway, holding a tray with two mugs of steaming tea and a plate of shortbread cookies. She deposited them on the coffee table as everyone slowly sank into their former positions.
“Thank you, sweetheart.”
Michelle squeezed into the chair beside her mother, then turned toward Beth. “Why are you really here?”
“Excuse me?”
“What do you want?” she asked. “What are you after?”
“Michelle, what are you doing?” Caroline asked.
“I don’t understand,” Beth said. “I think I’ve been very clear about what I want and why I’m here. I want this nonsense to end. I’m here to take my daughter home.”
“You don’t want money?”
“Money? No.”
“You’re not hoping to get some sort of book or movie deal out of this?”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“You’re not interested in publicity, in having your fifteen minutes of fame?”
“Of course not.”
“How about five minutes? You don’t even want your name in the papers?”
“That’s the last thing I want.”
“Why? Do you have something to hide?”
“What?”
Caroline glanced toward Hunter, shocked to see a sly grin creeping into the corners of his mouth.
Michelle stood up and began pacing back and forth in front of the sofa. “Look, I was very skeptical when Lili first contacted my mother. I’ve been waiting for the other shoe to drop, the con to be revealed…”
“There is no con.”
“I believe you,” Michelle told Beth. “I really do. I saw your face when those reporters swarmed you outside. And I can see the love in your eyes when you look at Lili. You aren’t faking. Nobody’s that good an actress. So, I accept that this isn’t some sort of sophisticated scam, that Lili is as genuine as she appears, that she truly believes there’s a chance she could be Samantha. And as unlikely as I still think that is, and as firmly as you insist it isn’t, I have to wonder why you’re so anxious to spirit her away before the test results come back.”
Beth was immediately on her feet. “That’s it. I’m done.” She fumbled inside her coat pocket, retrieving a small card along with her cell phone and calling the number listed on its front. “This is Beth Hollister,” she said, her voice shaking. “I’m finished here a little earlier than I thought. Can you pick me up now? I’ll meet you at the corner. Thank you.”
“Please don’t leave,” Caroline said. “There isn’t a flight to Calgary until morning. You can stay here…”
“That’s not happening,” Beth told her, her voice as flat as if it had been run over by a steamroller. She spun toward Lili. “I’ll be at the Best Western Hacienda Hotel until tomorrow. Then I’m on the first plane home. I’m praying with all my heart that you’ll come to your senses in time to be on that plane with me.” She marched into the foyer, grabbing her overnight bag on her way to the front door.
“Mom?” Lili called, running after her. “Wait.”
“Thank God,” Beth whispered, wrapping Lili in a tight embrace.
Caroline watched them, holding her breath. Then she watched as Lili slowly extricated herself from Beth’s firm grip.
“I’ll call you as soon as the results come back,” she said quietly.
Beth’s face crumpled in a combination of resignation and disbelief. “I love you,” she whispered. “Never forget that.”
Then she opened the door, pushed through the phalanx of waiting reporters, and disappeared down the street.
Peggy called at one o’clock the next day. “I just had a call from the director of the clinic,” she said without preamble. “He has the test results.”
“The results are back?” Caroline asked, as if she might have misheard. “So soon?” Her heart started to flutter rapidly, as if a small bird were trapped inside her chest.
“He wants to know how you’d like to handle things.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Apparently the media has been camped outside the clinic since seven A.M. He feels terrible because he suspects it might have been his receptionist who leaked the story, and he wants to make sure your privacy is protected.”
“A little late for that, don’t you think?”
“What’s done is done,” Peggy said, as pragmatic as ever. “The question is, what do you want to do now? He can courier the results over to you, or you can pick them up in person…”
Caroline’s head was spinning. “I don’t know what to do. There are reporters everywhere.”
“What if I go?”
“What do you mean?”
“I can go to the clinic and pick up the report. Nobody’s going to recognize me.”
“You just can’t leave work…”
“I’m the boss, remember? I have a meeting, but I can get away in about an hour. In the meantime you’d have to call the clinic and give Sid Dormer your permission. Tell his receptionist your name is Angela Peroni.”
“Who?”
“It’s his ex-wife’s cleaning lady. He’ll know it’s you. You’ll give him the okay; I’ll pick up the results and bring them right over. Caroline? Caroline, are you there?”
“I’m here. Oh, God.” She started laughing, although the sound that emerged was more of a crazed cackle. “It feels like we’re in the middle of a spy movie.”
“Are you all right?”
“I don’t know. I wasn
’t expecting the results back so soon. I thought I’d have more time. Another day, at least.”
“To do what?”
“I don’t know. Prepare myself, I guess.”
“You’ve been preparing for this for fifteen years,” Peggy reminded her.
Caroline braced herself against the kitchen counter, her legs threatening to buckle under her. “What if it’s not her?”
“Then we’ll deal with it,” Peggy said. “Look, the sooner I get to this meeting, the sooner I can leave, and the sooner we’ll know one way or the other. Do I have your okay to pick up the results?”
“Of course you have my okay.”
“Okay for what?” Michelle asked coming into the kitchen as Caroline was jotting down Dormer’s number. She was dressed as if she was going to the gym, in black leotards and a white tank top.
“The test results are back,” Caroline told her, punching in Dormer’s number.
“Already? It’s only been two days.”
“Can I speak to Sid Dormer, please?” Caroline said into the receiver. “It’s Angela Peroni.”
“Who?” Michelle asked.
“Ssh. Hello, Mr. Dormer. Yes, it’s most unfortunate about the media. I’m sorry, too. Peggy just phoned me. She says you need my permission in order for her to pick up the test results, so I’m giving it to you. Yes, thank you. She should be there in about an hour.” She hung up the phone.
“God, this feels like something out of James Bond.”
“What feels like something out of James Bond?” Lili asked from the doorway.
“The results are back,” Caroline said as Lili turned a deathly white, her pallor a stark contrast to the dark blue of her denim shirt.
“The moment we’ve all been waiting for,” Michelle said. “I’ll call Dad.” She reached for the phone, leaving messages for him at his office, at his home, and on his cell, telling him to get over there as quickly as he could. “Should I call Grandma Mary?”
“Let’s wait,” Caroline said. “There’s no point in getting everybody all riled up until we know one way or the other.”
“So what happens now?” Lili asked.
Caroline wondered how many times she’d heard that question these last few weeks, how many times she’d asked it herself. “Peggy is going to pick up the results in about an hour and bring them over. In the meantime, there’s not much we can do. Except wait.”