Chapter 9
I asked Lily what else Margaret said.
Margaret exploded.
“Stop using the child.”
I looked at her.
“You chained her.”
“That was discipline.”
“You packed her away.”
“Protection.”
“You lied about her father.”
“Necessary.”
Every crime had a softer word.
Lily held my hand.
“Grandma said Mommy makes Daddy weak.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“What else?”
“She said Daddy gets strong when Mommy goes away.”
Silence.
I turned to him.
He didn’t deny it.
Margaret smiled cruelly.
“Children repeat anything.”
Lily continued:
“She said Daddy gets a boy.”
Savannah looked down.
“And?”
Lily’s voice shook.
“Then Daddy doesn’t need me.”
Daniel finally moved.
“Lily—”
She stepped behind me.
“No.”
That one word hurt him more than any punch.
Good.
Victor looked at Margaret.
“You told her too much.”
I heard it.
So did Mark.
Margaret snapped:
“She wouldn’t stop asking questions.”
There.
Another accidental confession.
“You were preparing her.”
No answer.
“For being removed.”
Margaret stood.
“I was preparing her for reality.”
“What reality?”
“That she cannot always have everything.”
“She wanted her parents.”
“She wanted attention.”
“She wanted food.”
“She had food.”
Lily shook her head.
“No dinner.”
I stared.
Margaret looked annoyed.
“She threw a tantrum.”
Lily whispered:
“Because I wanted Mommy.”
Daniel turned.
“When?”
Margaret ignored him.
Mark asked:
“How many times did you withhold meals?”
She laughed.
“Oh, please.”
I stepped closer.
“How many?”
“She never missed a full day.”
Mark looked sick.
That was not an answer anyone gives unless the number is worse.
Lily’s hand tightened in mine.
I suddenly understood why she had been eating so quickly lately.
Why she hid crackers in her cardigan.
Why she panicked when plates were removed.
This wasn’t one birthday.
It had been months.
I looked at Daniel.
“You didn’t notice?”
He looked away.
Margaret answered for him.
“He knew.”
Silence.
Daniel whispered:
“Mom said it would teach her.”
I stared at my husband.
He had not merely failed to protect Lily.
May you like
He had approved the hunger.
That was the moment something inside me stopped considering him family.
