Page 79 of The Secrets We Treasure

Treasure looked down. “I should probably change clothes.”

“Naw,” Cherry countered. “Ain’t no time for that. We’ve gotta settle this once and for all.” She cast Barbara a hard look. “It’s time Treasure knew the truth. The whole truth.”

Treasure’s knees went weak. “What?” she breathed. “I don’t think I can take any more surprises tonight.” Her words got strangled in the grip of her closing throat as she sucked in a breath. “I just found out that my best friend is a Judas.” More wretched tears pooled in her eyes. “And I lost Greer.” She placed her hand over her mouth to stifle a sob.

“Ain’t nothing broken that can’t be fixed,” Cherry blustered.

Treasure and Barbara followed her into the kitchen, where they all sat down. Chills ran through Treasure as she hugged her arms.

“Tell her the truth,” Cherry ordered.

Barbara nodded, her expression turning resolute. “Oliver was a good man.” Her eyes misted. “I miss him every day. He was the love of my life.”

Treasure knitted her brows. “Wait a minute. I thought Dad was the love of your life and that you turned to Oliver for comfort.”

Barbara reached for Treasure’s hand. Her jaw worked, a tear slipping from the corner of her eye and rolling down her cheek. “From the first moment I saw Oliver, I was smitten.” Her voice took on a dreamy quality. “He was the most magnificent man I’d ever seen. He was hurting and disillusioned with life. He was madly in love with his first wife, Delphine. When she died, he sought comfort from Josette.” Her eyes hardened. “It’s hard to believe it now,” she snapped, “but Josette was once a beautiful woman.”

“I know. I’ve seen the pictures of her in the hotel.”

“Oliver was impressed with my gardening skills. He said it reminded him of Delphine. The two of us had many good years together.”

“Why didn’t he divorce Josette and marry you?”

“There were many reasons. Loyalty to his son, Banks. Fear of scandal.” She paused. “I asked him not to.”

Treasure was missing a significant piece of the puzzle. “Why would you ask him not to?”

Hesitancy crept over Barbara’s features as she looked at Cherry, who nodded for her to continue. Barbara squeezed Treasure’s hand. “To protect you.”

Her mind whirled. “I—I don’t understand.”

Barbara’s eyes shimmered with affection. “People were constantly hounding Oliver about the treasure he’d allegedly hidden somewhere on the island.” A wistful smile drifted over her lips as she chuckled softly. “Oliver thought it was only appropriate that we name our child Treasure. To remind us that the real Treasure wasn’t hidden somewhere in the ground but living and breathing each day, reminding us of what’s truly important.”

A jolt of shock ricocheted through Treasure. For a few seconds, she was so stupefied that she couldn’t speak. She removed her hand from her mom’s. “Oliver Chasing was my father?”

Barbara nodded, tears trailing down her cheeks.

“H—how could you do this to me?” she hissed. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Her insides were on fire, burning away the chill. She wanted to screech at the top of her lungs and break every glass in the house. She shook her head, disgust souring her stomach. “Did Dad actually have an affair? Or was that some lie you cooked up to give you an excuse to be with Oliver?”

“Don’t use that tone of voice with me, young lady. I’m still your mother,” Barbara snipped.

Treasure’s eyes widened as an incredulous laugh rose in her throat. “Really? You’re pulling the mom card right now? I don’t believe you,” she muttered.

Cherry patted Treasure’s hand. “Go easy on your mama. She’s lived with enough regret for the both of you.”

“I never wanted to hurt you.” Barbara’s voice broke. “Your dad did have an affair, and he left us.” She narrowed her eyes. “Matthew never even realized that you weren’t his.”

Treasure rubbed a hand over her forehead. “What a twisted mess. No wonder I’m such a wreck.” She lifted her eyes to Barbara’s. “You should’ve told me the truth.”

“I know. I wanted to.” She clasped her hands together. “But as time went on, it became easier for me to just keep my secret.” Her expression grew pleading. “I hope you can forgive me. I never meant to hurt you.”

The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on Treasure. Hadn’t she just had a similar conversation with Greer? She’d kept the truth from him just as her mother had kept the truth from her. The very key to her mother’s secret was embedded in Treasure’s name, and she’d never known. Like mother like daughter. They were a despicable pair. An image of Oliver flashed through her mind. He’d been kind to her, often giving her peppermint sticks or gum. Her biological father had been a distant acquaintance who’d been right in front of her face, and she never even knew. Regret hollowed her insides. Her father’s abandonment—or at least the man she’d believed to be her father—cast a long, gloomy shadow over her childhood. She still carried remnants of it to this day. And yet, Matthew wasn’t her real father. What a twisted mess!

“I had no idea what Josette and Francie put you through,” Barbara stewed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Treasure’s anger blasted heat through her veins as she locked eyes with Barbara. “Why didn’t you tell me your secret?” She almost jumped out of her skin when thunder boomed. Rain pelted the windows like nails.

“It’s bad out there,” Cherry observed. “I sure hope we don’t lose electricity.”

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