Chapter 15 - Lily
Rebecca flew to Miami alone.
Margaret disagreed.
Thomas strongly disagreed.
Michael surprised everyone by supporting her.
“You need to see her.”
Rebecca knew he was right.
Vanessa met her at a quiet restaurant near Coconut Grove.
Lily sat beside her.
Eleven years old.
Curious eyes.
A book tucked under one arm.
Rebecca's heart tightened immediately.
The child looked like Daniel around the eyes.
There was no denying it.
Vanessa stood nervously.
“Lily, this is Rebecca.”
Lily smiled politely.
“Hi.”
Rebecca smiled back.
“Hi, Lily.”
They sat.
For the first twenty minutes, nobody discussed Daniel.
Lily talked about school.
She loved science.
She hated volleyball.
She wanted to become a veterinarian.
Rebecca listened.
Then Lily asked the question everyone had been avoiding.
“You're Michael's mom, right?”
Rebecca looked at Vanessa.
Vanessa's eyes filled.
“Yes.”
Lily nodded.
“So Michael is my brother.”
“Yes.”
“Does he know?”
“Yes.”
Lily looked down.
“Does he hate me?”
Rebecca's heart broke.
“No.”
Lily looked up.
“Are you sure?”
Rebecca leaned forward.
“Completely.”
Lily swallowed.
“Do you hate my mom?”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Rebecca considered the question carefully.
“No.”
Vanessa looked at her.
Rebecca continued.
“I am angry about choices adults made.”
“But you are not responsible for those choices.”
Lily nodded slowly.
She seemed relieved.
Later, while Lily visited the restroom, Vanessa whispered.
“Thank you.”
Rebecca looked at her.
“For what?”
“For not punishing her.”
Rebecca's face tightened.
“She is a child.”
“Daniel was afraid you would.”
Rebecca laughed bitterly.
“Daniel has spent years being afraid of reactions to things he chose to do.”
Vanessa looked down.
“I loved him once.”
Rebecca believed her.
“I know.”
“He promised he would leave you.”
Rebecca's voice remained calm.
“He promised Chloe the same thing.”
Vanessa looked surprised.
Rebecca shook her head.
“You weren't special in his pattern.”
The words were harsh.
Then Rebecca softened them.
“Neither was I.”
When Lily returned, she carried three photographs.
One showed Daniel at her seventh birthday.
Rebecca stared at it.
The date was familiar.
That same weekend, Daniel had told Rebecca he was attending a conference in Atlanta.
Rebecca felt an old wound open.
Not because he had visited Lily.
A father should visit his daughter.
Because he had built one child's happiness using lies told to another family.
Before leaving, Rebecca gave Lily an envelope.
“What is it?”
“My phone number.”
Lily looked at Vanessa.
Rebecca continued.
“You never have to use it.”
“But if you ever want to talk to Michael, or if you need something important, you can call.”
Lily held the envelope carefully.
“Okay.”
At the airport that night, Rebecca received a message from Michael.
How was she?
Rebecca smiled through tears.
She typed.
Smart.
Funny.
Scared.
Michael responded immediately.
Can I meet her?
Rebecca looked out at the runway.
For the first time, something good was emerging from Daniel's wreckage.
Yes.
May you like
She wrote.
I think you should.
