Chapter 1 - The Fallen Letters
“Daddy!”
Daniel looked up from the open ring box.
Seven-year-old Lily crossed the rooftop holding a family drawing against her pale-blue dress. Before she could reach him, Vanessa stepped between them, took the paper and tore it once down the center.
Emily rushed from the service area and wrapped one protective arm around Lily.
“Take your child back to the kitchen,” Vanessa said coldly.
Daniel slowly rose.
He stared at Emily’s black server uniform, then at the little girl clinging to her.
Recognition struck first.
Then confusion.
“Emily?”
Vanessa moved beside her, gesturing toward the service entrance.
Her clutch slipped open.
Several sealed envelopes fell across the polished rooftop.
Every envelope carried the same small printed portrait of Daniel.
Emily looked down.
“Those are every letter I sent you.”
Daniel knelt and picked up one.
The postmark was seven years old.
Vanessa reached toward it, then stopped.
“Your mother told me to hide them.”
The rooftop fell silent.
Margaret stood beyond the champagne tables in a dark formal gown. Her composed expression disappeared as every guest turned toward her.
Daniel closed the ring box and placed it on top of the letters.
Lily cautiously touched his trouser leg after he stepped closer.
He looked directly at Vanessa.
“How many years did you keep from us?”
Her lips parted.
Margaret began walking toward them.
Emily answered before either woman could.
“Seven.”
Daniel looked at Lily again.
The child had his gray eyes.
His dimple.
And the same nervous habit of folding one thumb beneath the other.
Lily held up the two halves of her drawing.
It showed three people standing beneath the New York skyline.
Emily.
Lily.
And a man wearing a black suit.
Daniel’s name was written beneath him.
May you like
Then Emily said:
“The first letter told you I was pregnant.”
