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“Oh?” Julia forced herself to sound casual
“When my mother was upset, she used to say that my father left us because he loved his real fa to say to a child” Julia’s tone was severe
“Yes She was troubled, but beautiful Dark hair and dark eyes”
Julia gave hi look
“I havetall, but I can’t iine she was more than a few inches taller than you”
“What was her first naraphs of her?”
“A few There are baby pictures ofout on me Why have I never seen them?”
“They aren’t hidden They’re in a drawer back in Cae I even have her diary”
Julia’s mouth dropped open “You have your mother’s diary?”
“And her father’s pocket watch I use it, on occasion”
“Did you ever read the diary?”
“No”
“If Sharon had left azed at her quizzically “I thought you didn’t have anything of your mother’s”
“They sent my father a box of her stuff when she died”
“And?”
“And I have no idea what’s in it Dad used to keep it in his closet I’ he still has it Now that you’ve reminded o with you”
“Thank you How much do you know about your father?”
“Nothiht’s dream When he died, I had a few conversations with his lawyer I know my father lived in New York and had a wife and children Initially, I declined the inheritance, but when I changed my mind they tried to break the will”
“Did he disinherit them?”
“Far from it A year before he died, he added me as an equal beneficiary to his other children His wife also received a substantial inheritance”
“So you never hed without amusement “Do you think they were in a hurry to ht?”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered
“I don’t care They aren’t my family”
“What was your father’s naer “I’ve told you these things and I’ll share what photos I have e get home But I want you to promise you won’t look into my family”
His expression was intense, if not severe But there was so else in his eyes that she couldn’t quite decipher