Chapter 24 - The Call We Feared
Three months later, Lily's mother disappeared from treatment.
The social worker called us.
Her name was Carla Bennett.
She sounded exhausted.
“We haven't been able to reach Rebecca in eleven days.”
Sophie sat beside me.
“What does that mean for Lily?”
“For now, nothing changes.”
“For now.”
Carla sighed.
“Yes.”
We didn't tell Lily everything.
Only what a seven-year-old needed.
Her mother was having a difficult time.
Adults were looking for her.
Lily would stay with us.
That night, Lily packed her backpack.
Sophie found her.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting ready.”
“For what?”
“When you send me away.”
Sophie sat on the bed.
“We're not sending you anywhere tonight.”
“But maybe tomorrow.”
“No.”
“Next week?”
“We don't know what the court will decide.”
Lily's chin trembled.
“I hate don't know.”
Sophie looked toward me.
So did I.
We both understood that sentence.
“I hate it too,” Sophie said.
Lily looked at her.
“You do?”
“Yes.”
“I spent a long time wanting guarantees nobody could give me.”
“What did you do?”
Sophie smiled sadly.
“I learned that not knowing tomorrow doesn't mean today isn't real.”
Lily thought about that.
“Am I really here today?”
“Yes.”
“Do you really love me today?”
Sophie stopped breathing.
Then answered.
“Yes.”
Lily looked at me.
“You too?”
“Yes.”
“Even if I leave?”
That question tore through both of us.
I knelt.
“Yes.”
“That's stupid.”
“Probably.”
“Why love somebody if they can leave?”
I glanced at Sophie.
She knew exactly what I was thinking.
“Because not loving them doesn't stop the leaving from hurting.”
Lily frowned.
“That makes no sense.”
“It will someday.”
“Adults say that when they don't know how to explain things.”
Sophie laughed.
“She has you there.”
Two weeks later, Rebecca was found.
Alive.
She had relapsed.
She entered treatment again.
Months followed.
Progress.
Setback.
Progress.
Then one afternoon, Carla arrived at our house.
She didn't sit.
That scared me.
“Rebecca wants to speak with you.”
Sophie tightened her hand around mine.
“About what?”
Carla looked toward Lily's room.
Then back at us.
“She is considering voluntarily relinquishing her parental rights.”
The room went silent.
My heart pounded.
Sophie whispered, “Why?”
May you like
Carla's answer changed our lives again.
“Because she wants Lily to stay with you.”
