Chapter 7 - Lily Didn’t Want To Be The Secret Anymore
We brought Lily home together.
No interrogation.
No Willow House.
We ordered pizza.
She ate one slice.
Then sat between us on the couch with her knees pulled up.
Daniel spoke first.
“I shouldn’t have thrown your food.”
She nodded.
“I shouldn’t have hit the table.”
Another nod.
“I wanted Mom to answer me and I asked you instead.”
Lily looked at me.
That was my turn.
“I shouldn't have told you to keep Grandma secret.”
“Why did you?”
“Because Dad and I disagreed.”
She frowned.
“That’s not my fault.”
“No.”
Daniel looked at me.
I deserved that too.
Lily twisted the hem of her shirt.
“Am I allowed to like Grandma?”
Daniel swallowed.
“Yes.”
She looked at me.
“Am I allowed to like Uncle Miles?”
The room changed.
I answered carefully.
“You barely know him.”
“He fixed Grandma’s lamp.”
Of course.
Children meet family scandals through lamps.
Daniel asked:
“When did you see that?”
Lily looked nervous.
I stepped in.
“You don't have to answer if you don't want.”
She thought.
“Last Saturday.”
Daniel kept his voice low.
“What happened?”
Lily looked at me first.
Then caught herself.
“Grandma fell.”
“She didn’t fall,” I said. “She got dizzy and sat down.”
“That looked like falling.”
Fair.
“Uncle Miles came downstairs.”
Daniel’s face tightened but he didn't interrupt.
“He helped Grandma.”
“Yes.”
“Then Mom got mad.”
Daniel looked at me.
I sighed.
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Because Miles had promised not to be there.”
Lily frowned.
“He lives upstairs?”
Daniel turned.
“What?”
I looked at her.
“Lily.”
“He does.”
Miles did not technically live there.
He kept the upstairs room because he stayed several nights a week after Helen’s health issues worsened.
I had known.
I had told myself his promise to stay upstairs counted as absence.
Daniel looked at me.
“You said he wasn’t there during visits.”
“I said he stayed away from Lily.”
“You knew he was in the house.”
“Yes.”
He stood.
Lily shrank slightly.
Daniel saw.
He sat back down immediately.
“Sorry.”
She watched him.
“Is Uncle Miles dangerous?”
Daniel looked toward me.
I didn't rescue him.
He had to answer his own question.
“I thought he was.”
“Now?”
“I don’t know.”
Lily considered that.
“Grandma doesn’t think so.”
“No.”
“Mom doesn’t.”
Claire could answer.
“I don’t think he is dangerous to you.”
Daniel rubbed his hands together.
Then Lily said:
“Grandma asked if I wanted to know what happened.”
My body tightened.
“What did you say?”
“I said no.”
Daniel stared.
“Why?”
“Because you guys were already weird.”
I almost laughed.
Daniel did, once.
It helped.
Then Lily became serious.
“Grandma said I could ask later.”
“Okay.”
Lily looked between us.
“Can I go back?”
Daniel didn't answer.
I almost did.
Stopped.
He noticed.
Then Lily said:
“See? You both do it.”
“What?”
“You look at each other before you answer me.”
Daniel leaned back.
“That’s usually supposed to be parenting.”
“It feels like you’re deciding which answer is safe.”
Neither of us had anything useful to say.
Lily pulled a cushion against her.
“I don’t want to go if I have to lie.”
“You won't,” I said.
Daniel nodded.
“No more secrets like that.”
She looked at him.
“Does that mean I can go?”
He took a breath.
“I need time.”
Lily’s face fell.
Daniel corrected himself.
“That's my answer. Not Mom’s. She can have a different one.”
I looked at him.
He continued.
“But you don't have to carry the difference.”
Better.
Lily nodded slowly.
Then:
“Grandma told me Uncle Miles came to your wedding.”
Daniel stared at her.
I turned toward him.
“What?”
He looked as confused as I was.
Lily shrugged.
“She said he wore a blue tie and didn’t go inside.”
Daniel’s face changed.
He picked up his phone.
May you like
This time he did not ask Lily another question.
He called Miles.
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