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Amelia had been working on the exterior of the house this week, and she had a streak of white paint across one cheek. Her gaze lingered on the baby’s fuzzy blonde head. “Where would we all be if Carly hadn’t shouldered the burden of making each of us feel loved and wanted?” Her low voice trembled, and she stared at Carly. “We haven’t been very good to you, Carly. I hadn’t realized what brats we’d been until the other day. I’m sorry I blamed you for Eric’s actions. Even though I thought you’d spent the money, it wasn’t right. It was your money. If you want to take care of this baby, I’ll help too.”
Emily frowned and picked at a nail before she sighed and chimed in. “I’m sorry too. I should have remembered all you did for us and how giving you’ve always been. I’ll help too.”
A lump formed in Carly’s throat. Maybe the big blowup had been worth it. “I love you, all of you. I hope you never think I regretted anything I did.”
“You gave up a lot for us. Even your boyfriend back then,” Amelia said.
“I learned this morning it never would have lasted anyway.” Carly nearly turned at a sound from another part of the house, but her sisters and grandmother moved closer in a circle of support.
Gram laid her hand on Carly’s arm. “Guard your heart, sugar. This baby will need to go back to her mother, and I worry you’ll be devastated if Kelly cuts off contact when that happens.”
Even now the thought made Carly wince. Would Kelly take their kindness and throw it back in their faces? Carly had hoped this would open a door between them so Noah and Caroline could be close. “I’ll try, Gram.”
The noise in the other room came again. “I’ll go help Lucas get things into my room. Amelia, would you mind fixing a bottle for Caroline? The instructions are on the can on the kitchen counter.”
Amelia nodded, and Carly hurried off to find Lucas. A smile settled on her lips at the way they’d come around to helping her. Maybe their relationship would survive after all.
She found Lucas with his arms full of a box of baby supplies. “Let’s put those in my room,” she said.
His hazel eyes were frowning. “What did you mean about Ryan?”
Her smile faded. She’d hoped he hadn’t heard that comment. It was Ryan’s story to tell. “Um, just that we weren’t really suited.”
“I think there’s something you aren’t telling me. You said you found outthis morningit wouldn’t have lasted. I know you saw him before breakfast. Did he say something?”
She sighed as he backed her into a corner. Lying never helped anything. “He told me he hadn’t been faithful when we were together. That it was better for me that we’d broken up.”
Lucas’s eyes flickered. “I thought you broke his heart.”
“So did I.” Better not to say more than that. “It’s all water under the bridge now. Please don’t tell him I mentioned it. It feels like gossip.”
“You answered what I asked.” He moved past her toward the bedroom, and she followed.
When she reached the main bedroom, she went to the dresser and pulled out the bottom drawer, which was empty. “I’ll put her things in here. Have you heard anything from Vince on how Kelly is doing? Have they found who did this yet?”
“She’s in the ICU on a ventilator, Carly.” He set the box on the floor by the dresser. “Have you thought about what you’ll do if she dies?”
Her hands froze as she reached for the baby clothes. “She can’t die. Caroline needs her.”
“It’s a bad injury. She’s lost a lot of blood, and her lung was damaged. The prognosis isn’t great.”
His reluctant tone told her he hadn’t wanted to tell her that. “I don’t know. She might have parents who would want Caroline. Or siblings.”
“I don’t think so. Eric mentioned she was an only child, and her parents are elderly. They live in an assisted-living facility in Florida. It would be life-changing for them to take her.”
She moistened her lips. “There’s something else. Kelly told me to take a folder she had lying underneath her.” It wasn’t exactly what Kelly had said, but the intent was clearly there.
“You gave it to the police?”
She shook her head. “I was afraid we’d never see it, and it might be important to our investigation. I haven’t looked at it yet. There hasn’t been time.”
He pressed his lips together. “You’re probably right about that, but the local police might need it too. Let’s take a look.”
She went to her purse and found the leather file fastened with an elastic band. “There’s a bookmark.” She flipped through the pages to the marked page and scanned down the spidery writing. It was all in Russian, so no real help. She unfolded the paper to study it and froze. “Lucas, this is the provenance for the Fabergé egg and surprise! It documents the egg’s existence and its cataloging after the revolution, though it doesn’t say how Sofia came to possess it. I suspect it was stolen.”
Twenty-Seven
Lucas filed paperwork in his office and tried not to think about the situation at his house. Carly might say she didn’t think she’d end up with little Caroline, but it was entirely possible. He took a swallow of coffee. His stomach was hollow, or maybe it was the shock of the day.
