With his free hand he grasped her arm. “What the fuck are you saying? She’s a little girl.”

“No! Not her,” Patricia retorted. “Claire! She doesn’t deserve to have him as a husband. I’d put years into him.” Shaking off Phil’s grip, she stared rebelliously. “He used to take me places. Did you know that? Does she? I doubt it. I went with him to business dinners and to meet with associates.” She cocked her head to the side. “And it wasn’t all business either. We traveled. It all ended when she came around, and I was supposed to plan their wedding? Really? Why would she expect me to do that?”

Phil wanted to shake this woman. When she came around? How could Patricia possibly blame Claire for being kidnapped and held prisoner? He also doubted it was Claire who wanted Patricia to plan her wedding.

Patricia went on, “Fine, you’re going to kill me anyway. Tell her… tell her that I would’ve gotten him back too, if she hadn’t trapped him by getting pregnant! What a slut! I just figured if I was the one…”

Phil released the gun as he roughly covered her mouth and neck. “My patience is running thin. I asked you about Nichol, not Claire.”

Her eyes bulged as she gasped for air. When he removed his hand, she answered, “She, Claire, doesn’t deserve to have his child. I do. I don’t know what I planned to do with her, but I planned to take her.”

It was all Phil needed to hear. Taking a step back he nodded. “I asked for honesty. Now we’re leaving.”

“No!” she yelled, reaching for the edge of the table. “I’m not going anywhere. I was honest. That’s the truth.”

One swipe of his phone and Phil called Eric. “Plan A. Get us now.”

Patricia’s eyes filled with tears. “What does that mean?”

“It means we’re leaving here. Say goodbye to Melissa Garrison.”

Honesty is more than not lying. It is truth telling, truth speaking, truth living, and truth loving.

—James E. Faust

CLAIRE INHALED THE sweet scents of lotion and powder as she held Baby Beth in her arms. Staring down at her niece, she gently ran the tips of her fingers over the fine blonde hair. “Oh, Em, couldn’t you just sit and hold her for hours?”

With emerald eyes that sparkled with both love and exhaustion, Emily replied, “I could. I really could, but I don’t believe Michael would approve.”

Claire grinned. The thought in her mind shouldn’t be voiced, yet Claire couldn’t stop herself. “You did this with two, when Michael was born…” She kept her eyes on the beautiful baby, avoiding her sister’s tired gaze. “I’m sorry you had to, but you’re experienced with two children.”

Emily shook her head. “No, Claire, don’t be sorry. We love Nichol. You know, I thought I was experienced. I thought this would be like it was when Michael was born, but it’s not. It’s a whole new world. Nichol was seven months old when Michael came into our lives. It wasn’t easy having two babies. That’s when we hired Becca.” She sighed. “Thank God we hired Becca. Like I said, it wasn’t easy, but Nichol wasn’t walking or talking or demanding attention… other than what babies do. It wasn’t like this. Michael wants to play and go. Nichol was content to be home with Michael and me.”

Claire looked up to see her sister’s eyes close. “Em, why don’t you take a nap? Shannon and Becca have Nichol and Michael outside. I’ll take care of Beth for an hour or so. You need your rest.”

Emily’s eyes opened wide. “No. I can’t do that.”

“Why not? You just fed her. Look, her little eyes are fighting sleep. She’ll be fine.”

“I… I just… what if something happens?”

“Don’t be silly,” Claire scoffed. “Taylor’s here. Everything’s fine. You should take advantage of the opportunity and get some rest when you can.”

Stifling a yawn, Emily stood. “Really, Claire, thank you. I just can’t. I’ll nap when John gets home. Let me have her, and I’ll put her down in her crib. You and I can have some coffee and watch the kids play. We haven’t talked in a while, not without the kids or men around.” Reaching for her daughter, Emily asked, “Fill me in on what’s happening with you?”

Claire felt a cold chill as Beth’s tiny warm body was lifted from her lap. Suddenly, sadness filled her chest. She’d wanted a range of emotion and as she contemplated the sudden emptiness, she had it. Fighting the realization of what just went unspoken, Claire feigned a smile. Her sister didn’t trust her with her child. Trying to hide her hurt, Claire said, “I’m good, Emily. I’ll go make some coffee while you put Beth down. Then I’ll meet you on the back patio. It’s getting warmer and the children are playing in the backyard.”

“That sounds great,” Emily replied, heading toward the nursery.

With each step, Claire thought about the disappointment eddying through her. Yes, she’d had mental issues, but never in her life would she have imagined that her own sister wouldn’t trust her with her baby. Didn’t Emily know how much Claire loved children? With each step she tried to suppress her distress. As she did a new thought occurred to her. Wasn’t this a good sign? She wanted the range of emotion that was real life. By decreasing her medications, she asked to once again experience the ups and downs. Claire had just forgotten how painful the downs could be.