Chapter 5 - The Morning of the Yellow Pajamas
Lily woke before sunrise because the rain was loud against the windows.
She had dreamed that Evelyn was standing outside the gates, calling her name. In the dream, Lily ran down the drive, but the gates stretched farther away with every step.
When she opened her eyes, the room was empty.
She put on her yellow pajamas and went to the library.
The hidden drawer held only one letter now.
Lily had concealed it behind a loose wooden panel after Vanessa took the others.
She unfolded it carefully.
My dearest Lily,
A house is not a home because it is large or beautiful. It becomes a home when the people inside make one another feel safe.
If you ever feel afraid, remember that you are allowed to speak. You are allowed to ask for help. You are allowed to walk toward anyone who treats you with kindness.
Lily read the letter twice.
Then she heard voices in the main hall.
Vanessa was speaking to a man on the phone.
“The judge signs today,” she said. “Grant has the papers ready.”
Lily moved closer.
“Once Evelyn is legally declared dead, the trust challenge begins. Hale wants the transfer completed before the end of the month.”
Lily understood only part of it.
She understood dead.
She understood Evelyn.
She ran toward Grant’s office.
He was standing beside his desk in a green suit, placing documents into a leather case.
“Is Mommy dead?”
Grant turned sharply.
“What?”
“Vanessa said a judge is going to say Mommy is dead.”
Vanessa entered behind her.
“You were listening to a private conversation.”
“Is she dead?”
Grant looked at Vanessa, then at Lily.
He could have told the truth.
He could have admitted that he did not know where Evelyn was.
He could have stopped everything.
Instead, he said, “The court may decide that she isn’t coming back.”
Lily’s face went still.
“That’s not the same thing.”
Grant stepped toward her.
“Lily, adults have to make difficult decisions.”
“You hid her letters.”
“That was for your own good.”
“You lied.”
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Apologize to your father.”
“No.”
The word was quiet.
Vanessa’s expression sharpened.
“Excuse me?”
“I said no.”
Grant glanced at his watch.
“We don’t have time for this.”
Vanessa pointed toward the sofa.
“Then she can stay there until she learns respect.”
Lily refused to move.
Vanessa took the final letter from her hand.
Lily reached for it.
The page tore down the middle.
The sound was small.
To Lily, it felt enormous.
She dropped to the floor and gathered the pieces.
Vanessa told her to leave them.
Lily did not.
She remained beside the sofa, holding the torn letter and crying quietly.
Grant went upstairs to retrieve another file.
Vanessa sat down with her coffee.
“You need to understand something,” she told Lily. “This house is going to belong to people who know how to use it.”
“It belongs to Mommy.”
“Your mother abandoned it.”
“She’ll come back.”
Vanessa leaned down.
“No, she won’t.”
At that exact moment, the front door burst open.
May you like
Rain swept across the marble.
Evelyn stood in the doorway.
