Chapter 7 - The Exodus
"Senator Vance," Claire said, looking at the lawmaker. "Mr. Holloway. Please accept my apologies for the disruption to your evening."
"Admiral," Richard Holloway said firmly, stepping forward and offering his arm to his wife. "You have nothing to apologize for. In fact, my family is leaving this reception right now. I refuse to spend another minute in the presence of a man who lacks basic honor."
Richard turned to his son, Ethan. "Ethan, Melanie, you are welcome to join us at our estate for dinner. But as for Mr. and Mrs. Bennett... your presence is no longer requested."
Ethan looked at his new father-in-law with sheer disgust, pulled Melanie by the hand, and walked out of the ballroom without looking back.
One by one, the guests began to follow. The prominent businessmen, the judges, the donors, and the city executives whom Arthur had spent months trying to impress gathered their coats and walked out the door. Within ten minutes, the grand ballroom—once filled with laughter and music—was virtually empty, save for the catering staff, Arthur, Eleanor, and Claire’s naval unit.
Arthur sat heavily in a chair near the head table, surrounded by half-empty wine glasses and discarded napkins. Eleanor wept silently beside him, her ruined makeup running down her face. They were completely alone in the middle of the empty room.
Claire walked toward the double doors of the hall. She stopped at the threshold and looked back one last time at the people who had raised her.
"Tomorrow morning," Claire said, "my attorney will be contacting you. I want every document, every photograph, and every piece of my biological parents' history that you have hidden in your house for thirty-six years. If you refuse, I will use every legal avenue available to the Department of Defense to audit every cent of the guardian stipend you collected."
Arthur didn't answer. He couldn't even raise his head to look at her.
"Goodbye, Arthur," Claire said softly. "Goodbye, Eleanor."
She turned and stepped through the double doors, leaving the shadows of her past behind forever.
Outside in the hotel courtyard, the rain had stopped. The cool night air felt clean and refreshing against Claire's skin.
Standing in formation along the brick courtyard were her sailors. Chief Mason stepped up beside her, holding out a glass of ice water.
"Ma'am," Mason said quietly. "There's a gathering down at the Officers' Club in Norfolk. About two hundred people are waiting for you. Real family."
May you like
Claire looked at the sea of white and blue uniforms standing under the city lights. A genuine, radiant smile broke across her face—a smile her family in Richmond had never seen.
"Lead the way, Chief," Claire said. "Let's go home."
