Chapter 13 - Lily Asks About Her Mother
Weeks later, Lily found Daniel listening to Caroline’s recording.
“Mommy knew Rachel?”
Daniel nodded.
“Mommy trusted her?”
“For a while.”
“Was Mommy wrong?”
Daniel thought carefully.
“People can be wrong about someone and still be smart.”
Lily climbed into his lap.
“Was Aunt Vanessa bad?”
“She made bad choices because she believed something that wasn’t true.”
“Do we still love her?”
Daniel swallowed.
“Yes.”
“Can you love somebody and be mad?”
He smiled sadly.
“Yes, sweetheart.”
Lily thought about that.
Then she asked:
“Did Mommy love me?”
Daniel played the final seconds of Caroline’s recording.
Her voice softened.
“Tell Lily her mother loved her more than anything she ever owned.”
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Lily pressed her face against Daniel.
For the first time since the wine lounge, she cried without fear.
