Chapter 15
A year after the barbecue, Lily turned seven.
She asked for her birthday party in the backyard.
Naomi checked twice.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“Not the park?”
“No.”
“Not Maya’s pool?”
“Mom.”
Naomi smiled.
“Okay.”
The grill remained where it had always been.
The purple swing stood behind it.
There were twelve children.
Cupcakes.
Water balloons.
A folding table covered with craft supplies.
No Carla.
No Diane.
Robert was not invited.
Not yet.
Lily ran barefoot across the grass wearing a purple birthday shirt and denim shorts.
Almost exactly what she had worn the year before.
Naomi noticed.
She did not mention it.
At one point Lily stopped near the grill.
Naomi’s entire body tightened.
Lily looked at it.
Then asked:
“Can we make corn?”
Naomi laughed in relief.
“We can make corn.”
Owen arrived late.
Still in a suit despite the heat.
Lily pointed at him.
“You own the house.”
Owen nearly choked.
Naomi laughed.
“No.”
Lily frowned.
“You said.”
Owen crouched.
“I said I’m the trustee.”
“What’s that?”
He thought.
“It means I help protect something that belongs to you.”
Lily considered that.
“My swing?”
“Yes.”
“My room?”
“Yes.”
“The grass?”
“Technically.”
She smiled.
“Then no selling my swing.”
Owen looked at Naomi.
“That sounds legally binding.”
Later, after everyone left, Naomi found a small envelope inside the mailbox.
Robert’s handwriting.
Addressed to her.
Not Lily.
Naomi opened it.
No excuses.
No request to come home.
No demand for forgiveness.
Only a short note saying he had completed the counseling program he entered voluntarily, had sold the last part of his old business, and was working for another company now.
At the bottom:
I know telling the truth later does not erase standing still when she needed me. If Lily ever wants to see me, I will come. If she doesn’t, I will live with that.
Naomi read it twice.
Lily came up behind her.
“What’s that?”
“A letter from Grandpa.”
The little girl became quiet.
“Is he coming?”
“Not unless you want that someday.”
Lily thought about it.
Then looked toward the purple swing.
“Not today.”
Naomi folded the letter.
“Okay.”
Lily ran back into the yard.
Naomi stood alone on the porch holding Robert’s note.
Carla had faced consequences.
Diane had lost authority and access.
The property scheme was dead.
Lily’s trust was protected.
The lie about Naomi being an unstable mother had collapsed under evidence.
Everything that needed resolution had received it.
Only one thing remained unanswered.
Whether Lily would ever want her grandfather back in her life.
Naomi did not choose for her.
May you like
For the first time, Robert did not try to choose either.
And for now, that was enough.
