Chapter 5 - The year I couldn't remember
I called Vanessa from the storage unit.
“You gave birth to Lily.”
She said nothing.
“Tell me I'm wrong.”
“You're not.”
I leaned against a shelf.
“She's my daughter.”
“Yes.”
“Did you know when you married me?”
Another silence.
“Yes.”
That hurt more than anything.
“You married me knowing we had a child together.”
“I loved you.”
“You found me because of Lily.”
“No.”
“Then how?”
“Your father.”
Of course.
Dad.
He reintroduced us years later.
Presented Vanessa as the daughter of an old family friend.
I thought our meeting was chance arranged by parents.
It wasn't.
“What happened in 2010?”
Vanessa sounded exhausted.
“You came to Ohio with friends.”
“I remember the trip.”
“You got drunk.”
“I remember parts.”
“I met you at a party.”
I sat down.
“Did I hurt you?”
“No.”
Her answer came immediately.
“You were drunk, but so was I. We spent the night together willingly. You left the next morning.”
That mattered.
“What happened then?”
“I got pregnant.”
“Why didn't you contact me?”
“I tried.”
“What?”
“Your father answered.”
Dad intercepted her.
He met Vanessa and Diane.
He told them I was too young.
Too unstable.
He offered financial support.
Vanessa wanted to keep the baby.
Diane insisted on secrecy.
When Lily was born, Diane legally presented herself as mother through falsified family paperwork arranged by an attorney.
Not legitimate adoption.
Identity fraud.
My father participated.
I felt nauseated.
“Why?”
“He said he was protecting your future.”
Again.
Protection used as a weapon.
“When did you learn Dad was my father?”
“Before Lily was born.”
“When did you see me again?”
“Seven years later.”
“Did Dad arrange that?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“He was dying.”
My father knew his health was failing.
He wanted me close to my daughter.
But instead of telling me the truth, he engineered my relationship with Vanessa.
“Did you marry me to give Lily a father?”
“No.”
“Then why didn't Lily live with us?”
Vanessa began crying.
“Because Mom wouldn't release her.”
Diane controlled Lily legally.
Then Diane died three years ago.
“So why not tell me then?”
“Lily ran.”
“What?”
“She disappeared from foster review before custody could be corrected.”
“Where was she?”
“With relatives.”
“Whose?”
Vanessa whispered:
“Your father's attorney.”
I knew immediately.
Richard Sloan.
Dad's longtime lawyer.
Then Ethan's words came back.
Lily had a box.
Vanessa was desperate to find it.
“What did Dad leave Lily?”
She whispered:
“Proof.”
“Of what?”
“Not just who her father is.”
May you like
“Then what?”
“Proof of why Richard kept her hidden.”
