Chapter 18 - MARGARET ASKED TO SEE LILY
Rosa almost rejected the request immediately.
Margaret Caldwell wanted a supervised visit.
Not with Ethan.
With Lily.
“No.”
Ethan did not argue.
They sat in Rosa’s apartment after dinner.
Lily was building a tower in the living room.
“She knew about Lily for years.”
“I know.”
“She watched us.”
“I know.”
“She helped Victoria.”
“I know.”
“She called my daughter a complication.”
Ethan nodded.
“I remember.”
“Then why are we even discussing it?”
“Because she asked.”
“That doesn’t mean she deserves it.”
“No.”
Rosa looked at him.
“Do you want her to see Lily?”
Ethan was silent for a long time.
“I don’t know.”
That answer mattered.
He was not defending his aunt.
He was not asking Rosa to forgive.
He simply did not know.
Margaret had been part of his life since childhood.
People could hurt you terribly and still occupy old rooms inside your heart.
Rosa understood that.
Eventually, they agreed.
One meeting.
Supervised.
Public location.
Lily would not be told anything complicated.
Margaret arrived at a quiet garden café without lawyers.
She looked older.
Prison had not touched her yet.
But consequences had.
No makeup.
No expensive jewelry.
No assistants.
Just Margaret.
Lily sat beside Rosa coloring flowers.
Margaret stopped several feet away.
For the first time since Rosa had known her, the woman looked unsure.
“Hello, Lily.”
Lily looked up.
“Hi.”
Margaret sat.
Lily returned to coloring.
Margaret stared at her hands.
“I’m sorry.”
Rosa said nothing.
Ethan said nothing.
Lily continued drawing.
Margaret looked at Ethan.
“I told myself everything I did was for your father.”
“You did it for control.”
“Yes.”
“I told myself Rosa would ruin your future.”
“She gave me one.”
Margaret closed her eyes.
“I know.”
Then she looked at Rosa.
“You owe me nothing.”
“That’s true.”
“I destroyed years of your life.”
“Yes.”
“I cannot repair that.”
“No.”
Margaret’s eyes filled.
Rosa had never seen her cry.
“I am sorry.”
Rosa did not say she forgave her.
Because she didn’t.
Perhaps one day.
Perhaps never.
Forgiveness was not an obligation.
Lily looked up.
“Why you crying?”
Margaret wiped her cheek.
“Because I made bad choices.”
Lily considered this.
“You say sorry?”
“Yes.”
“Mama says sorry doesn’t fix stuff.”
Rosa nearly choked.
Margaret almost smiled.
“Your mother is right.”
Lily added another flower to the page.
“But you still say it.”
Margaret nodded.
“Yes.”
“You still say it.”
Then Lily tore a small corner from the paper.
She drew a crooked purple flower.
She handed it to Margaret.
“For you.”
Margaret stared at it.
Rosa expected her to refuse.
Instead, she accepted it with trembling fingers.
“Thank you.”
The visit lasted twenty-two minutes.
Margaret never asked to touch Lily.
Never asked for another meeting.
Never demanded forgiveness.
When she left, Ethan stood alone outside for several minutes.
Rosa joined him.
“Are you all right?”
“No.”
She took his hand.
After a moment, he squeezed hers.
Inside the café, Lily pressed her face against the window.
“Daddy!”
Ethan turned.
Lily waved wildly.
Whatever grief remained inside him did not disappear.
But it became smaller.
May you like
Because now there was something stronger standing beside it.
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