Chapter 8 - OUR MOTHER'S CHOICE
Emily agreed to see her. Lily stayed with Rosa and a bag of animal crackers in the family room.
Mom stopped inside the doorway.
“You look so much better.”
Emily stared at her.
“Better than when?”
Mom lowered the grocery bag.
There it was. The mistake a person makes when she's practiced a lie until she forgets which version belongs to whom.
“You visited,” I said.
“Once.”
“You said Ryan told you she didn't recognize anyone.”
“She was asleep when I got there.”
Emily's voice was quiet.
“I wasn't asleep when you left.”
Mom pressed her fingers against her mouth.
“I heard you,” Emily continued. “I couldn't get the words out fast enough. I kept saying Lily. You told me to rest.”
Mom began to sob.
I wanted to yell. Emily lifted her good hand, stopping me.
“Let her answer.”
Our mother sat down.
Ryan had come to her six weeks earlier and called Emily's survival a miracle he hadn't wanted to announce too soon. He claimed the doctors believed family excitement could undo her progress.
Mom had believed him for three days.
Then she visited.
Afterward, he told her Emily was dangerous, confused, capable of dragging Lily into a public fight. He reminded Mom that he paid the mortgage on her small house.
“He said he could make sure I never saw Lily again.”
Emily looked at the woman who taught us to say please and thank you, to return extra change, to call when we got home.
“So you left me there.”
“I thought I could help more if he trusted me.”
“What help did you give?”
Mom couldn't answer.
She had signed the contact statement. She had signed the new transfer form because Ryan said the move was necessary and told her not to upset James.
Then she bought a dress for his wedding.
“I was afraid,” she whispered.
Emily's eyes filled, but her voice held.
“So was I.”
Mom reached for her hand.
Emily moved it away.
“Tell Ortiz everything. That's what you can do now.”
Our mother nodded. Before leaving, she opened the bag and took out a small white envelope.
“He gave me this after I visited. He said if anyone asked questions, I should show them.”
Inside was a letter supposedly written by Emily, asking her family to leave her alone.
May you like
Below the signature was a tiny pink star.
I didn't understand why Emily went still until she whispered, “That's Lily's star.”
