Lie to Me (Pearl Island Trilogy #4)(38)
“Actually, that’s not completely true,” she said. “I didn’t tell anyone right away because I sensed it was special the moment I found it. I felt it. And I knew the Historical Commission would take it away from me as part of the shipwreck. I just couldn’t give it up. Not right away.”
“What makes everyone think it was part of the shipwreck?” he asked, since that was the very assumption he needed to disprove.
“What else could it be?” She looked confused by the question. “If one of our guests had lost something that valuable while swimming, I’m sure they would have told us. Since I found it right after Hurricane Ike, that means the storm churned it up from the bottom of the cove and tossed it onto the shore. But I don’t care how the necklace got here. What matters—to me—is that I found it.”
“Yes, it is amazing that it was you.” He nodded, still stunned by that fact.
She looked hesitant but hopeful. “It’s amazing because I think it was a gift from Marguerite and Jack.”
“What?” That caught him off guard.
“I can’t believe I’m going to tell you this,” she said. “You’ll probably think I’m crazy.”
To his shock, tears filled her eyes. “Hey, hey.” He stepped closer to rub her upper arms. Why did talking about the mirror upset her? “It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me anything. I mean, unless you want to. Whatever it is, I’ll understand.”
“I’ve always felt like an outsider on Pearl Island,” she blurted out. “No matter how much I love it here, or how often the St. Claires say I’m like part of the family, I’ve never felt like I belong.”
“Oh, Chloe.” He eased her into his arms. When she buried her face against his chest, he stroked her hair, trying to soothe her. “Shh, it’s okay, baby. I’ve got you.”
“Yesterday,” she sniffled, “I told you about Marguerite’s husband, Henri. What I didn’t tell you is his full name.” Lifting her head, she gazed up at him through watery eyes. “It was Henri LeRoche.”
Luc stared at her, more shocked and confused by her obvious shame than by the confession. “You’re saying you’re related to the man who built Pearl Island? But that does make you family.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I mean yes, I’m related, but only through Henri, not Marguerite.”
Luc’s heart twisted as he watched Chloe dry her cheeks. She seemed embarrassed by her tears, and he had no idea how to comfort her. He also feared his own confession would upset her even more.
“You can’t share what I’m about to tell you.” She wiped a finger under her eyes, growing calmer now that her initial outburst was over. “It’s fairly common knowledge here in Galveston, but all mention of Henri’s last name and the fact that he founded LeRoche Shipping is intentionally left out of all promotional material. That was part of a lawsuit settlement between the St. Claires and my grandfather.”
“Lawsuit?” Surprise had his arms loosening, but he kept them around her waist. If there had been a legal battle between the two sides of the family, no wonder Chloe felt as if she didn’t belong here.
“The St. Claires hate my grandfather,” she told him, sounding wounded. “With good reason. You have no idea what they went through to get Pearl Island away from him.”
“Wait a second.” He shook his head. “Your grandfather used to own Pearl Island? I assumed the current owners inherited it, since they’re direct descendants of Marguerite and Henri.”
“They should have inherited it, but didn’t. After Marguerite died in the confrontation with Henri, he disowned his daughter, Nicole, claiming she was illegitimate. Which she wasn’t!” Chloe insisted. “When he died, Henri left everything—this island, his fortune, and LeRoche Shipping—to his nephew in New Orleans. That’s how John inherited it.”
“John? You mean your grandfather?”
“Not that I ever call him that. Trust me, my grandparents aren’t the touchy-feely kind. They prefer I call them by their names.”
He raised a brow, thinking that sounded awfully cold. “Is that why you feel unwelcome here?”
“I didn’t say unwelcome. At least not anymore. The St. Claires have never thrown any of this in my face.”
“Okay.” He frowned, trying to sort it out. “But you used to feel unwelcome?”
She nodded. “I thought Marguerite and Jack didn’t want me here. That changed when I found the necklace. Until that day, I’d never felt them. Ever. Nearly everyone who spends time on Pearl Island feels the ghosts in some way. Yet, I never did. So I thought they were, I don’t know, snubbing me.”
“Until you found the necklace.” Luc felt a noose tightening around his neck.
“Yes.” The light came back into her eyes. “It was like a sign. The fact that it’s a necklace makes it especially meaningful, since Marguerite’s necklace is so much a part of her legend. Plus, it came off of the Freedom, which makes it like a gift from both of them. I know they meant for me to be the one who found it, because when I picked it up, I felt…”
“Reassured,” Luc said woodenly. He’d felt the same way whenever he held the mirror.