Chapter 14 - LILY’S FIRST BIRTHDAY
Lily’s first birthday transformed the estate.
No white wedding flowers.
No formal receiving line.
No men whispering about trusts.
Balloons.
Yellow ducks.
A ridiculous cake.
Luca arrived from college wearing jeans and carrying a stuffed dinosaur almost as large as Lily.
Victor stared.
“She’s one.”
“She’ll grow.”
“Into a paleontologist?”
“Maybe.”
Rosa approved.
Victor lost.
Guests were limited.
Evelyn came from Boston.
Sarah, one of Elena’s old nursing friends, attended after Luca found her.
Even Detective Walsh appeared briefly and refused cake until Rosa forced her.
The birthday took place in the same reception hall where Adriana had pushed the carriage.
Victor had considered using another room.
Then changed his mind.
He did not want the worst memory to own the space forever.
The staircase remained.
But a new child-safe gate protected the upper landing.
Luca noticed.
“Subtle.”
Victor nodded.
“Very.”
At noon Lily took three uncertain steps toward Luca.
Everyone froze.
She fell against his legs.
Luca lifted her.
“Did you see that?”
Victor smiled.
“Yes.”
“She walked to me.”
“You were holding cake.”
“Still counts.”
Lily smeared frosting on Luca’s shirt.
He looked horrified.
Victor laughed.
Later, when the baby slept, Victor and Luca sat outside.
Lake wind moved through the trees.
Luca looked toward the house.
“You ever think about that day?”
“The wedding?”
“Yeah.”
“Sometimes.”
“If you hadn’t caught the carriage…”
Victor’s expression changed.
“Don’t.”
Luca nodded.
“Sorry.”
Victor exhaled.
“No.”
He looked toward the house.
“I think about it too.”
Luca was quiet.
Then:
“Do you hate Adriana?”
“No.”
“Still?”
“Still.”
“How?”
Victor thought.
“Hate would keep her in the room.”
Luca nodded.
“My therapist says similar annoying things.”
“You have a therapist?”
“Yes.”
Victor looked offended.
“You didn’t tell me.”
“You have security cameras. Figure it out.”
Victor laughed.
Then Luca became serious.
“I used to hate Grandpa Angelo.”
“Reasonable.”
“Now I don’t know.”
Victor looked at him.
“You don’t have to choose one feeling.”
“He stole you from me.”
“Yes.”
“He also created the trust.”
“Yes.”
“He hurt Mom.”
“Yes.”
“He tried to repair things.”
“Yes.”
Luca shook his head.
“People are inconvenient.”
Victor smiled.
“Family especially.”
That evening, Victor gave Luca the photograph from the estate gate.
He had investigated quietly.
The photographer had been Angelo’s driver, Joseph Marin.
Alive.
Eighty-four.
Florida.
Victor contacted him.
Joseph remembered the night.
“Your father cried,” he said.
“Why take the photo?”
“Angelo asked.”
“Why?”
“He said one day you might need proof he wasn’t entirely heartless.”
Victor had laughed bitterly.
Typical Angelo.
Even regret needed documentation.
Joseph said something else.
“Elena gave your father another envelope.”
“What envelope?”
“I don’t know.”
Angelo placed it in his private safe.
That safe had been emptied after his death.
The envelope was never found.
Another open thread.
Victor told Luca.
Luca shrugged.
“We don’t have to chase every envelope.”
Victor smiled.
Exactly.
The party ended after sunset.
Victor carried sleeping Lily upstairs.
Luca followed with the dinosaur.
At the nursery door, Luca stopped.
“You know what’s weird?”
“What?”
“A year ago Adriana thought she was competing with Lily.”
Victor nodded.
“Now?”
Luca looked at his little sister.
“There wasn’t even a competition.”
Victor felt something tighten in his throat.
“No.”
Luca smiled.
“She would’ve lost anyway.”
Victor raised an eyebrow.
“Why?”
“She’s cuter.”
Victor laughed so loudly Lily woke up.
May you like
Rosa yelled from the hallway.
Both men immediately blamed each other.
