"Then explain it."
My mother looked at the crowd, at the pastor, at me, at everyone except Clara. "Certainly, but it's a private matter, and this is hardly the place."
"That letter is being taken out of context."
"It's too late for that," I said. "It's not private, and this has become the place. So, please, start explaining. I want to know the truth. Did you know Clara's father?" I looked at my father. "Did he invest in the company?"
He kept his eyes on Clara. "He was a partner in the early stages."
"Partner?" I repeated.
My father exhaled. "Informally."
My vision almost blurred. "Did you buy him out?"
"He didn't ask to be bought out."
Clara's face didn't change. "Because he trusted you to transfer his portion of the company to me."
"Did he invest in the company?"
I looked between them and felt something inside me tearing down the middle.
Then Clara said, softer now, "I can't marry into this unless it's named."
I stepped back. A sound moved through the church, one long breath of shock. People thought I was leaving. I know they did. For one second, maybe Clara thought it too. Her shoulders tightened, just barely, but I saw it.
And the truth is, for that one second, I didn't know what I was doing.
I only knew I couldn't stand where I was anymore.
