She turned to Lisa, her gaze sharpening.
"You say Kate broke you and Thaddeus apart. Where's your proof?"
Lisa didn't flinch.
"I noticed long ago the way she looked at Thaddeus. If it wasn't her, then who?"
I almost laughed, there was nothing left to say.
Mrs. Lambert looked at Thaddeus. "And you believe that too? No wonder the Matthews family keeps sinking lower."
Thaddeus had no answer.
Mrs. Lambert ignored them both, took my hand, and led me away.
In Mrs. Lambert's room, she folded my hand in hers.
"You poor girl. You've taken so much."
I shook my head.
"It's almost over. Mrs. Lambert, in three days I leave for Los Angeles. I'm starting at a new company."
Surprise crossed her face, but more than that, reluctance to let me go, and a kind of relief.
"That's good. And don't you worry. Thaddeus won't have it easy. Businessmen are shrewd. He made a scene at my gala. From now on, anyone who wants to do business with him will have to come ask me first."
Then, half joking, she added, "Though with a pig's brain like Thaddeus's, the Matthews family was going under sooner or later anyway."
That made me laugh.
When she heard which company I was joining, her eyes lit up.
"I have a nephew who works there. I'll give you his number. If anything comes up, go to him. You're carrying a child now. It helps to have someone there."
I nodded, grateful.
"Thank you, Mrs. Lambert."
The day before I left, I went to see Nina. I never got to meet this baby in the world.
I crouched down and laid the bunch of white calla lilies gently before the headstone.
"Nina, I'm sorry." My voice came out rough. "Mommy's here to see you."
"Sweetheart, you're going to have a little sister, or maybe a little brother. As sweet as you were."
"Don't worry. This time, Mommy will keep her safe. I'll give her a thousand times, a hundred times the love, your share too."
Then a phone rang, cutting through everything I was pouring out.
It was Thaddeus.
I picked up.
He opened with an order.
"Kate, three of our biggest clients pulled out, one after another. They said they don't want to cross Mrs. Lambert. Go talk to her."
I paused, my voice flat.
"Sure. Come ask me in person. Nina's grave. Now."
Then I added, "Bring Lisa."
I hung up and dialed another number.
Then I stroked the calla lily petals and murmured, "Nina, Mommy's going to make the people who hurt you apologize to you in person. All right? If you hear anything ugly, remember to cover your ears."
Thaddeus and Lisa arrived soon after.
Lisa strode over, fury in her eyes.
"Kate! Why would you drag us out to a creepy place like this? You—"
I cut her off coldly. "Kneel."
Lisa stared at me, stunned.
"Wh… what?"
Thaddeus froze too.
"Kate, what exactly are you trying to do?"
My eyes slid to him.
"You too. Kneel."
Lisa shrieked. "Kate, have you lost your mind?! You want us to kneel to a dead person?!"
I slapped her.
She raised her hand to strike back, and I caught her wrist with one hand while my other played the recording from the car.
In an instant the empty cemetery filled with their want, their heat, sounds no one should have to hear.
The color drained from Thaddeus's face.
I'd only kept a short clip. Before he could grab for the phone, it had already ended.
I fixed my eyes on Lisa.
"That terrifying video that night. You sent it to me, didn't you?"
