Chapter 16
Daniel came to me the next morning.
Alone.
No Margaret.
No Mark.
No excuses ready.
That was new.
“I want to apologize.”
“To me?”
“Yes.”
“Wrong person.”
He looked down.
“I know.”
“Do you?”
He swallowed.
“I let her hurt Lily.”
“Yes.”
“I believed it would make things easier.”
“For you.”
“Yes.”
“Not Lily.”
“No.”
I waited.
Daniel’s eyes filled.
“I told myself the chain was loose.”
I said nothing.
“I told myself she ate enough.”
Nothing.
“I told myself Mother was cruel because she knew how to protect us.”
Still nothing.
He laughed bitterly.
“I told myself a lot.”
“Yes.”
He looked toward the upstairs hallway.
“Can I see her?”
“No.”
He flinched.
“When?”
“When she asks.”
“What if she doesn’t?”
“That is a consequence.”
He closed his eyes.
For once, I didn’t soften it.
Some pain belongs to the person who caused it.
Mark entered later.
He had removed his capo pin.
Placed it on my desk.
“What is this?”
“I don’t know if I deserve it.”
I pushed it back.
“Then earn it.”
He stared.
“You’re not removing me?”
“You were blind.”
“Yes.”
“But when you saw, you stopped protecting her.”
He nodded.
“Late.”
“Yes.”
He accepted that.
Good.
Then he asked:
“Did Margaret really know the DNA result four months ago?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“She ordered her own test.”
“Why?”
“To see if the lie was safe.”
He stared.
Of course.
If Lily had not been Daniel’s, Margaret could expose it.
When the result came back positive, she hid it.
Truth was useful only if it served control.
Mark looked toward the window.
“She called Lily a bastard anyway.”
“Yes.”
His jaw tightened.
“I’m done calling that strength.”
Good.
Upstairs, Lily finished breakfast.
Then asked for another piece of toast.
No hesitation.
No hiding.
Small victory.
She looked at me.
“Mommy?”
“Yes?”
“Do I have to go to Grandma’s house?”
“No.”
“Ever?”
“Not unless you want to.”
She thought.
Then smiled.
“I don’t.”
Simple.
May you like
Clear.
No family council needed.
