Chapter 5 - The Things Lily Had Tried to Say.
Morning arrived without feeling like morning.
The hospital windows turned pale gray, but Claire had not slept.
She sat beside Lily and replayed the last six months one conversation at a time.
A sentence from April surfaced first.
"Can I stay with you when Grandma visits?"
Claire had been washing dishes.
She had barely turned around.
"Of course, honey, but Grandma loves spending time with you."
Lily had stared at the floor.
"She likes me better when I'm quiet."
Claire had thought it was about manners.
Now she heard something else.
Another memory came from June.
Lily had returned from an afternoon at Patricia's house without her favorite pink bracelet.
Patricia said Lily had lost it in the yard.
Lily insisted Grandma had thrown it away because it was "babyish."
Claire had assumed the truth was somewhere in the middle.
That phrase made her sick now.
Truth was not always in the middle.
Sometimes one person was telling the truth and another person was simply louder.
Detective Ruiz returned carrying coffee and a folder.
"Any change?"
Claire shook her head.
"Not yet."
Ruiz sat down.
"I need to tell you something before someone in your family does."
Claire stiffened.
"What?"
"Robert has hired an attorney."
Claire was not surprised.
"For what?"
"That's not unusual in a serious investigation."
"And Patricia?"
"Same attorney."
Claire looked toward Lily.
"They were worried enough to hire a lawyer before asking whether she's awake?"
Ruiz did not answer.
She did not need to.
Claire's phone began vibrating on the side table.
PATRICIA.
Claire stared at the screen.
Ruiz saw the name.
"You don't have to answer."
Claire let it ring.
A voicemail appeared.
Then another call came.
Then another.
Finally, a text message appeared.
PLEASE DO NOT DESTROY THIS FAMILY OVER A MISUNDERSTANDING.
Claire read it twice.
Her hands stopped shaking.
She showed Ruiz.
"Can you save that?"
"Yes."
Ruiz photographed the screen and asked Claire not to delete anything.
Another message arrived.
LILY GETS CONFUSED WHEN SHE IS TIRED.
Claire felt her anger rise.
Lily was still unconscious, and Patricia was already questioning what Lily might say.
Claire typed a reply, then deleted it before sending.
Ruiz nodded approvingly.
"Let the messages speak for themselves."
A nurse entered quietly.
"Mom?"
Claire stood so quickly the chair scraped the floor.
Lily's eyelids moved.
Claire rushed to the bedside.
"I'm here, baby."
Lily opened her eyes only slightly.
She looked confused at first.
Then she recognized Claire.
Her fingers moved beneath the blanket.
Claire leaned closer.
"You don't have to talk."
Lily's voice was barely audible.
"My bunny?"
Claire placed the stuffed rabbit beside her hand.
"Right here."
Lily held it weakly.
Her eyes filled with tears.
Claire's chest tightened.
"You're safe."
Lily looked toward the hospital door.
"Is Grandma here?"
"No."
Lily's shoulders relaxed.
That tiny movement hurt Claire more than any accusation could have.
Then Lily whispered something Claire would remember forever.
"I tried to call you."
Claire nodded, tears running freely.
"I know."
Lily stared at the rabbit.
"Grandma took the phone."
Claire did not ask another question.
She looked at Ruiz.
May you like
The detective was already standing.
And outside the room, someone had just arrived asking to see Lily.
