“I doubt it. Lana wasn’t the sort who would be prepared to share the stage with a child. She wanted to be the center of attention. I don’t think she saw much of Lizzy.”

“So in that way she was like your mother.”

“I hadn’t thought of it like that.”

“And the two of you weren’t in touch?”

“I hadn’t heard from her in years. That was my fault.” It was painful to admit it. “I made no effort to bond with her.”

“Because you’d already lost one sister. She could have made an effort, too. She didn’t have your reasons for keeping her distance.” He leaned forward, picked up the bottle and filled her glass. “Drink.”

“You’re the one who should be drinking. I can’t believe I dumped all that on you. I bet you’re just dying to run screaming through that door.”

He didn’t budge. “Now I understand why Brittany told me you were in trouble. She was the one who suggested you come here?”

“When we were at college, we made this pact that we’d help each other if we ever needed it. My friends gave me something my family never had. A sense of security. I know that, no matter what happens, Brit and Sky will always be there for me. And I for them. When I first heard I was Lizzy’s guardian, the priority was to find somewhere safe to stay. The press had been crawling all over the house. I was told that she needed to be kept away from everyone so that she could just process her grief and learn to live life a little. We talked about having security, but I couldn’t see how that would do anything but draw attention. No one knew I existed, so the safest thing seemed to be for me to take her and disappear. But of course the first thing a child wants to do when they see Shell Bay is dig in the sand.” She breathed. “I should have stayed in New York.”

“But you wouldn’t have had help in New York.” He was silent for a minute. “Emily, it wouldn’t take much for the press to find out Lana had a half sister.”

“But if they find that out, they will also find out Lana and I hadn’t seen each other for years. They’re not likely to link us.”

“They could.”

It wasn’t what she wanted to hear, and she felt a ripple of unease. “Even if they did, they wouldn’t look for me here, would they? There’s no trail.”

“No.” He turned his head and gave her a smile that was probably meant to reassure her but didn’t.

“You’re speaking as if you have knowledge. Have you ever been targeted by the press?”