Chapter 20 - The first sibling meeting
Four months after the injury, Lily said:
“I want to see him.”
Not at home.
Not alone.
A child-therapy center.
Claire present.
I present.
Two therapists nearby but not hovering.
Ryan entered first.
Lily held Claire’s hand.
Ryan stood.
His face went pale.
The bruise from my slap was long gone.
Lily’s scar near hairline had faded but remained faintly visible.
Ryan saw it.
“I’m sorry.”
Lily said:
“I know.”
Then:
“Don’t come close yet.”
He stopped.
“Okay.”
She sat.
He sat across the room.
For ten minutes they talked about nothing.
School.
A cartoon.
Ryan’s dog at Adam’s house.
Then Lily asked:
“Did Dad love you before me?”
I held my breath.
Ryan answered:
“Yes.”
Then quickly:
“But he loves you too.”
Lily looked at me.
“Why didn’t I know?”
I answered:
“Because I lied by keeping him secret.”
Ryan looked at me.
It was the first time he heard me call it that directly.
No privacy excuse.
May you like
No complicated-family excuse.
A lie.
