Michael wrapped up his verbal report to Devon. "So . . . you're the man who sends Emily Grace books."
"Yes, Michael, I am."
"Look, it's late and I'm beat. Just tell me how you know Maria and her daughter, and then we can both go to bed."
"I'm afraid it is . . . I believe the word you prefer is complicated."
"Honestly, I can wait on the details. I promise not to ask any questions. Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye. We can even pinky swear, if you want."
Devon's lips twitched, almost in a smile. "No, that won't be necessary. And even if you could wait – which I very much doubt – I would prefer to share the details now, while Emily Grace is asleep. I don't know how much her mother has told her."
"Try me," offered Michael.
"Maria Daniels is Garthe's ex-wife, and Emily Grace is his daughter."
"Oh, okay." Michael leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes. Then Devon's words finally sunk in, and his eyes flew open. "What?!"
Devon managed a real smile. "As I said, it is complicated. Garthe married Ms. Daniels mostly to get a rise out of his father. Because she was not the right sort. He forgot, however, that Wilton was a self-made billionaire and didn't care about a person's pedigree. Elizabeth, on the other hand, was horrified by her son's inappropriate choice for a wife."
"By inappropriate, you mean . . ."
"Ms. Daniels is an intelligent and highly motivated woman who comes from limited means." Devon sighed. "She was working in Las Vegas as a dancer, to earn money for college, when she and Garthe met. At the end of the day, Garthe wasn't willing to stand up to his mother. The marriage didn't even last two years."
"But they had a daughter."
"Some time after Garthe's incarceration in that South African prison, Elizabeth made a comment to Wilton, which led him to realize there was a child." Devon looked up at the second floor. "However, since the child was born after the divorce was finalized, Elizabeth had convinced herself that Garthe wasn't the father. And since the child was a girl, Garthe had no use for Emily Grace. Wilton had liked Ms. Daniels well enough but saw no reason to keep in touch with his son's ex-wife."
"Like I said: But they had a daughter."
Devon looked back at Michael. "Indeed. And so, Wilton and I went on what you refer to as a 'road trip', to see Ms. Daniels and to meet his granddaughter."