“Yeah.”
He sighed.
“I have a daughter too.”
“I know.”
“She wouldn’t forgive me if I did that to her.”
I closed my eyes.
“Then don’t.”
He was quiet for several seconds.
Finally, he said,
“I’ll talk to Mom and Dad.”
“You don’t have to talk to them for me.”
“I know.”
He paused.
“I just need to know who they are without the version they showed me.”
After we hung up, I walked into Lily’s bedroom.
She was still asleep.
Her purple dress was folded over the chair.
The glitter from her birthday crown was scattered across the floor.
I sat beside her bed and watched her breathe.
A few minutes later, she stirred.
“Mom?”
“I’m here.”
“Did Grandma and Grandpa come?”
My throat tightened.
“No, sweetheart.”
“Are they coming tomorrow?”
I brushed the hair away from her forehead.
“I don’t know.”
She looked at me for
