Chapter 2 - the locked room)
Lily did not understand why Vanessa took so long to open the door.
She waited in the hallway swinging the flower basket gently between both hands.
The wedding coordinator had left her there after receiving an urgent call from the catering staff.
At last, the door opened.
Vanessa stood behind it.
Her gown was magnificent.
Diamonds sparkled across the fitted bodice.
A long white veil fell behind her.
For a moment Lily forgot everything except how beautiful she looked.
"Wow."
Vanessa forced a smile.
"Do you like it?"
"You look like a princess."
"Thank you."
Lily stepped forward.
Vanessa remained in the doorway.
"What are you doing here?"
"Daddy said I could come if you said yes."
Vanessa's eyes flickered toward the empty hallway.
"Where is your father?"
"Taking pictures."
"And who brought you here?"
"Miss Nora."
"Where is she?"
"She had to go."
Vanessa's jaw tightened.
Lily lifted the basket.
"I brought my flowers."
Vanessa looked at the child for several seconds.
Then she stepped aside.
"Come in."
Lily entered.
Red and pink rose petals covered sections of the white marble floor.
She smiled.
"So many petals."
"They're for photographs."
Lily turned slowly, admiring the room.
Then something silver beneath the vanity table caught her attention.
A tiny chain.
Vanessa saw her looking.
"Don't touch anything."
Lily stopped.
"I wasn't."
Vanessa crossed the room quickly and stood between Lily and the table.
"Why don't you wait over there?"
She pointed toward the pink chair.
Lily obeyed.
Vanessa knelt and searched beneath the vanity again.
Whatever she was looking for clearly was not there.
Lily watched.
"Did you lose something?"
"No."
"My mommy used to lose her earrings."
Vanessa's head snapped toward her.
Lily continued innocently.
"Daddy says she could lose anything except me."
"Your father talks about Emily too much."
Lily frowned.
"She's my mommy."
Vanessa stood.
"I know."
"You said I shouldn't talk about her today."
Vanessa walked toward the mirror.
"I said today should be happy."
"My mommy doesn't make me sad."
Vanessa's shoulders stiffened.
Lily looked down.
Something was caught beneath the leg of the pink vanity chair.
A folded photograph.
She reached for it.
"Lily."
Too late.
The child picked it up.
The photograph showed a woman wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt.
Her face was partially turned away from the camera.
But Lily recognized her.
Children remember differently than adults.
They may forget dates.
They may forget exact words.
But they remember the shape of a mother's eyes.
Lily stared.
"Mommy?"
Vanessa crossed the room in three steps.
"Give me that."
Lily pulled it toward her chest.
"That's Mommy."
"No, it isn't."
"It is."
Vanessa reached for the photograph.
Lily backed away.
"When was this?"
"It's not Emily."
"She has Mommy's necklace."
Vanessa's eyes dropped to the picture.
The woman in the photograph was indeed wearing the heart-shaped silver locket.
A mistake.
A small mistake that should never have survived.
Vanessa lunged.
Lily screamed and turned away.
Vanessa grabbed her wrist.
The diamond bracelet around Vanessa's own hand dragged across Lily's forearm.
Five sharp edges scraped the child's skin.
Lily cried out.
Vanessa released her.
Thin red lines appeared instantly.
Then blood.
Lily stared at her arm in horror.
"You hurt me!"
"I didn't mean to."
Lily began crying.
"I'm telling Daddy."
Vanessa's fear overtook whatever compassion she had left.
"No."
She grabbed the photograph.
Lily held on.
The paper tore.
One half remained in the child's fist.
The other stayed with Vanessa.
Something fell from behind it.
A silver locket.
Lily snatched it from the floor.
Vanessa's face drained of color.
"Give me that necklace."
"No!"
"Lily."
"It's Mommy's."
"Give it to me now."
Lily ran toward the door.
Vanessa reached it first.
She turned the lock.
Lily stopped.
"What are you doing?"
Vanessa looked toward the child.
Her breathing was unsteady.
"I need you to listen to me."
"I want Daddy."
"You'll see him later."
"Open the door."
"Not yet."
Lily started crying harder.
Vanessa crouched.
"If your father sees you like this, the wedding will be ruined."
"You hurt me."
"It was an accident."
"You grabbed me."
"I was scared."
"Why?"
Vanessa said nothing.
Lily clutched the locket.
"Is Mommy alive?"
The question seemed to strike Vanessa physically.
She looked away.
Lily noticed.
"She is."
"No."
"Then why do you have her necklace?"
Vanessa closed her eyes.
For several seconds there was only the hum of the vanity lights.
Finally she stood.
"Stay here."
"No."
"Lily."
"I want my daddy!"
Vanessa walked out.
Lily rushed after her.
But Vanessa pulled the door closed.
The lock clicked from outside.
Lily hit the door with both hands.
"Vanessa!"
No answer.
She screamed.
"Daddy!"
The hallway remained silent.
Vanessa stood on the opposite side of the door, pressing both hands against her face.
Then her phone vibrated.
Another message.
YOU FAILED.
Vanessa stared at it.
A new photograph arrived.
It showed Daniel standing near the chapel doors.
Taken only seconds earlier.
Someone was watching him.
Vanessa typed quickly.
I CAN FIX THIS.
The reply came immediately.
YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES.
Vanessa looked back at the locked door.
Inside, Lily was sobbing.
Vanessa whispered to herself.
May you like
"What did you leave behind, Emily?"
Then she walked away.
