Lucy’s eyes darted between them. “Complicated how?”
“Complicated like…” Marty let out a sigh. “Like I didn’t know that I was adopted until a few weeks ago.”
“Oh.” Lucy’s eyes grew wide.
“And,” Marty continued, “I’ve been on the run for a few weeks, too.”
Lucy stared at him for a beat, as though waiting for him to laugh. When he didn’t, she asked, “On the run from who?”
Marty looked at Claire, then back at Lucy. “The FBI.”
“Do you have warrants out?” Lucy dropped her voice. “Because I know a guy.”
Claire blinked at her. “Youknowa guy?”
“Yeah!” Lucy said. “Margie’s brother, what’s-his-name.”
Claire shook her head. “That’s your guy?”
“I mean, I know other people, too,” Lucy said, waving a hand.
Marty laughed, and Claire was relieved to see that Lucy had broken the tension.
“What’d you do?” Lucy asked, leaning forward.
Claire was slightly disturbed by how casually Lucy discussed breaking the law, but she reminded herself that Lucy was casual with most things.
“Nothing.” Marty stopped and looked at Claire. “Is there a chance that the FBI might’ve gotten to Lucy already?”
Claire looked at her daughter. “I doubt it.”
“Gotten to me?” Lucy repeated. “Like you think I’m wearing a wire?”
Claire laughed. The two of them were just too much. “Lucy, is there anything you’re not telling us about your surprise visit?”
She put her hands up, the picture of innocence. “No! I just wanted to pop in and see how you were doing, and see this mysterious hotel you’re working in.”
She could tell that Lucy was trying to hide something. Her tone was off.
Claire narrowed her eyes at her. “Oh really? That’s all?”
“Fine.” Lucy let out a sigh. “I also thought they were going to fire me, so before they could do it, I quit my job.”
Claire laughed. “Ah, that makes sense.”
“The job didn’t align with my professional interests anyway,” Lucy continued. “That’s all though, I swear. I don’t know anything about the FBI.”
Marty was smiling at her, but said nothing.
Lucy sighed again. “Really, that’s it. Claire’s been so busy working at this hotel that I wanted to make sure she was okay. And, you know, figure out my next steps, too.”
Claire wasn’t sure how many shocks Lucy could handle in one night, but she felt uncomfortable that Lucy still thought she was simply “working” at the hotel.
She’d hoped to tell the girls the truth about the hotel, and about the inheritance, the next time they all visited. It seemed she needed to move that date up, though.
Her silence didn’t go unnoticed by Lucy. “What? Did you get fired, too?”
Claire shook her head. “No, I did not.”
