Chapter 11 - THE GIRL WHO REMEMBERED HIS VOICE
Arthur Romano had faced dangerous rivals without blinking.
But when he stood outside Eleanor Price's yellow front door, his hands shook.
I noticed because mine were shaking too.
Brutus sat beside us, wearing a borrowed red collar.
Arthur insisted on bringing him.
"Rosie might remember him," he explained.
I looked at the enormous dog.
"Or he might eat Eleanor's entire pantry."
Arthur smiled faintly.
"He does have expensive tastes."
I rang the bell.
Eleanor opened the door.
Her eyes filled with tears when she saw Arthur.
"You look so much like your father."
Arthur's expression tightened.
"Did you know him?"
"Years ago."
She stepped aside.
"Come in."
The cottage smelled of cinnamon and fresh bread.
Children's drawings covered the refrigerator.
A pair of pink sneakers sat beside the stairs.
Then I heard footsteps.
A little girl appeared in the hallway.
Brown curls.
Gray eyes.
A small scar beneath her chin.
Rosie.
She was older than I remembered.
But there was no mistaking her.
"Maeve?"
Her face lit up.
She ran toward me.
I dropped to my knees.
She threw her arms around my neck.
"I missed you!"
I hugged her tightly.
"I missed you too, sweetheart."
Over her shoulder, I saw Arthur standing completely motionless.
His eyes were shining.
Rosie noticed him.
She stepped backward.
"Who's that?"
I took a breath.
"Someone who has been looking for you for a very long time."
Arthur slowly crouched.
"Hello, Rosie."
She stared at him.
Then her gaze moved toward Brutus.
The dog lifted his massive head.
Rosie's mouth fell open.
"Brutus?"
Arthur's breath caught.
"You know him?"
The little girl nodded.
"Mommy showed me pictures."
Arthur covered his mouth.
Rosie approached the dog carefully.
Brutus remained perfectly still.
Then she touched his head.
He whined.
The same sound he'd made when I found him behind the dumpster.
Rosie smiled through tears.
"He's bigger now."
Arthur's voice broke.
"Yes. He is."
She looked at Arthur again.
Then tilted her head.
"You sound like him."
Arthur froze.
"Like who?"
"The man in Mommy's recording."
Eleanor stepped forward.
"Rosie has something to show you."
The little girl nodded.
She disappeared upstairs and returned carrying a wooden box.
It was small, painted blue, and decorated with faded stars.
Rosie placed it on the coffee table.
"Mommy said I could open it when I found the man with the gray eyes."
Arthur slowly sat down.
Rosie lifted the lid.
Inside lay a photograph, a silver necklace, and a tiny recording device.
Eleanor helped her press the button.
A woman's voice filled the room.
Soft.
Warm.
Trembling.
"Rosie, my darling girl. If you're hearing this, it means you've found your father."
Arthur stopped breathing.
Elena.
His dead wife's voice.
Then she continued.
"He doesn't know about you and Nicholas. I wanted to tell him every day, but they threatened to hurt you both."
Arthur bowed his head.
Tears fell onto his hands.
Elena's voice shook.
"Your father is not the monster people say he is. He's the bravest man I've ever loved."
Rosie looked at Arthur.
"Are you my daddy?"
He couldn't speak.
I touched his shoulder.
Arthur nodded through tears.
"I believe I am, sweetheart."
Rosie studied him.
Then asked a question that broke everyone in the room.
"If you're my daddy, why didn't you come get me?"
Arthur reached for her hand but stopped before touching it.
"Because I didn't know where you were."
Her eyes filled.
"I waited."
His face crumpled.
"I'm so sorry."
She stepped closer.
Then slowly wrapped her arms around his neck.
Arthur held her as though she were made of glass.
And while he cried into his daughter's hair, the recording continued playing.
Elena's final words changed everything.
"Arthur, if you're hearing this, there's one person you must never trust."
A pause.
May you like
Then she whispered:
"Vincent Russo."
