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Michelle gasps. “When was this? You never told me.”
I shake my head. “We were too busy, and my mind was on Noah. I didn’t think it mattered. But he’s making a nuisance of himself, now.” I tell Michelle what happened, that he’d gone to see Ava without permission.
Michelle is furious right away.
“If I ever see him, he’s dead,” she threatens. “Who does he think he is?”
“He’s using her to get to me. I know he is. I’m upset Maria allowed it at all; she knows how I feel about him.”
“I’m upset with her, too. But that’s not why you’re here, is it?”
I shake my head.
“Noah heard me talk to Maria about Ava.”
Michelle sucks her breath through her teeth and covers her mouth with her hand.
“What did he do?” she asks through her fingers.
I relay the events that followed and try to remember everything that we said.
“The thing is,” I say after I told Michelle what I remember, “I was wrong. I mean, he has every right to be upset I hid it from him. We’ve been so open. But I didn’t think it would be a good idea. It would just make things harder for us when it’s already ending soon. Or would have. It’s done, now. And he hates me. I said some terrible things to him, Mish. Terrible things that I didn’t even mean because I felt too stupid about him catching me like that.”
I let out a shuddering breath.
“You should talk to him,” Michelle says. “Tell him you’re sorry. And tell him about Ava, Ray.”
“I can’t do that.”
“What harm can it do, now? Doesn’t he deserve to know?”
“What good can it do?” I counter. “He already thinks I’m a terrible person, and rightfully so. I can’t add to that now by telling him I’ve been hidinghisdaughter from him, not only for a week but five years. And it’s not going to make a difference if he won’t be in her life, anyway. It will just upset everyone.”
Michelle doesn’t agree with me. I know she doesn’t. But I don’t know how to better explain myself to her.
“At least think about it,” Michelle says. “We’re not gone yet.”
I nod. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Everything. You’re always there for me. And letting me stay here is amazing. I really needed this.”
“Sure,” Michelle says with a smile. “Anything.”
I finish my coffee and put the empty cup on the nightstand.
“I have something to tell you, too,” Michelle says.
“What?” I look at her, and she looks like she’s about to burst with excitement.
“I’m not going back to Paris with you when the flights open up again.”
I frown. “What? Why not?”
“Well…” she reaches for her laptop and opens it. It powers up right away. She turns it to me and shows me spreadsheets.
“With everyone out yesterday, I took a bit of time to crunch the numbers. It’s already blowing up, Ray. Look at this!”
