Chapter 6 - THE MESSAGE FROM LILY
Lily did not ask about Alexander for the first few days.
She was busy learning the layout of the safe house, choosing a favorite cup, and deciding that the backyard swing needed a blanket.
But children notice more than adults think.
One evening, while I was folding laundry, she asked, “Does Daddy know where we live?”
“He knows we're safe.”
“Does he miss us?”
I sat beside her.
“I think he does.”
“Then why didn't he come home before?”
I looked down at the little shirt in my hands.
“That's something Daddy will have to explain.”
Lily nodded.
Then she said, “I don't want him to be sad.”
I hugged her.
“You don't have to take care of Daddy's feelings. That's an adult job.”
She leaned against me.
“Can I draw him a picture?”
“Of course.”
She drew a house with four people outside. Then she added a fifth person standing far away, beside a blue car.
“Who's that?” I asked.
“Mateo.”
I looked at her.
“You know about him?”
She nodded.
“I heard Daddy talking on the phone. He said he had another little boy.”
I took a breath.
“That's true.”
“Is Mateo my brother?”
“Yes.”
“Does he know about us?”
“I don't know.”
Lily studied her drawing.
“Maybe he's lonely too.”
I kissed the top of her head.
“Maybe.”
The next day, Rachel arranged a supervised video call with Alexander.
He appeared on the screen in his study. His hair was untidy, and there were dark circles beneath his eyes.
“Hi, sweetheart.”
Lily sat beside me.
“Hi, Daddy.”
Alexander smiled.
“I miss you.”
Lily looked at the screen.
“Why did you go to Seattle?”
His smile disappeared.
“I had business there.”
“For three years?”
He swallowed.
“Yes.”
“Did you have another house?”
Alexander glanced toward his attorney, who was sitting outside the camera's view.
“Yes.”
“Did you have another family?”
The room became quiet.
Alexander leaned closer.
“I have you, Lily. I love you.”
“But you had Mateo too.”
“Yes.”
“Did you love him more?”
“No. I love you both.”
Lily looked down.
“Then why did you leave us?”
Alexander opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
I wanted to answer for him. I wanted to explain that his choices had nothing to do with Lily's worth.
But he needed to face the question himself.
Finally, he said, “I was selfish. I thought I could keep two parts of my life separate. I was wrong.”
Lily looked back at the screen.
“Are you coming home?”
Alexander's eyes filled.
“I hope I can see you soon.”
“That's not the same.”
“No,” he whispered. “It isn't.”
The call ended a few minutes later.
Lily sat quietly.
Then she handed me the drawing.
“Can you send this to Mateo?”
I looked at her.
“Would you like that?”
She nodded.
“He should know he has a sister.”
I scanned the picture and sent it through Rachel's office to Sophia's attorney.
May you like
I did not know whether Sophia would allow Mateo to see it.
But I wanted the children to have a chance at something the adults had failed to give them: the truth without blame.
