Chapter 7 - The Birthday They Tried to Take
Lily turned five the next morning.
I did not throw the party I planned.
No rented princess.
No twenty children.
No giant cake.
She did not need noise.
We sat on the apartment floor in pajamas.
I gave her the pink package from my duffel.
Inside was the yellow dress she had seen months earlier.
Not the one hanging at home.
A different one.
I had bought it in Montana during the operation after seeing it through a shop window.
Lily touched the fabric.
Then hugged it.
My sister Claire came over.
Marcus brought cupcakes and pretended they were unrelated to government funds.
Priya brought crayons.
Caleb brought a stuffed moose from Canada.
For two hours, Lily smiled.
Not much.
Enough.
Then someone knocked.
Everyone froze.
Marcus checked the camera.
Grant.
He stood outside holding balloons.
My entire body tightened.
A temporary protective order prohibited him from contacting me.
But the paperwork had apparently not been served yet.
Marcus opened the door halfway.
Grant stared at him.
“Why are federal agents inside my wife’s apartment?”
Marcus answered.
“You need to leave.”
Grant looked past him.
“Evelyn.”
I remained where I was.
Lily saw him.
The change was immediate.
She dropped the yellow dress.
Her breathing accelerated.
She crawled backward until she hit the sofa.
Grant saw it.
For one brief second, shame appeared.
Then anger replaced it.
“What did you tell her about me?”
I stood.
“Nothing.”
“She’s scared of you because of what happened while I was gone.”
Vanessa appeared behind him.
Of course.
She wore sunglasses and a camel coat.
“I told you this was pointless.”
Lily made a tiny sound.
Vanessa smiled.
My vision narrowed.
Marcus stepped between us.
“You both need to leave.”
Grant pointed at me.
“She is my daughter.”
Marcus answered.
“And there is an active child-abuse investigation.”
Grant froze.
Vanessa stopped smiling.
“What?”
I watched her.
She had not expected the camera box to be found.
Grant looked toward Vanessa.
That glance told Marcus everything.
He asked.
“What camera?”
Grant’s face changed.
Marcus had baited him.
Grant realized too late.
“I didn’t say camera.”
Marcus nodded.
“No.”
“You looked at Vanessa like I did.”
Vanessa stepped backward.
Priya quietly photographed it.
Grant grabbed her arm.
“Let’s go.”
Before leaving, he looked at me.
“This is not over.”
Lily flinched again.
I said.
May you like
“No.”
“It’s finally starting.”
