Chapter 7 – A Sister's Memory
Back at Lancaster Manor, Lily wandered through the enormous house in silence.
Everything felt too big.
Too clean.
Too expensive.
She clutched the old stuffed rabbit her mother had sewn by hand.
Adrian found her standing in front of a family portrait.
In the painting, a young Clara smiled beside Richard while Adrian, only nine years old, laughed between them.
Lily stared at Clara's face.
"She looks happy."
Adrian swallowed.
"I don't remember seeing her sad."
Lily smiled faintly.
"My mommy smiled like that when she talked about you."
He knelt beside her.
"She talked about me?"
"Every birthday."
Lily reached into her little backpack and removed six folded birthday cards.
"They're all for you."
Adrian opened the first one.
Happy Tenth Birthday, my brave boy.
The second.
Happy Eleventh Birthday.
The third.
Every year.
Every birthday.
His mother had written to him, even though she knew he might never receive the letters.
His tears finally came.
Lily wrapped her tiny arms around him.
"I think Mommy knew you'd cry."
May you like
Adrian laughed through his tears.
"She knew me very well."
