Chapter 17 - THE FIRST NIGHT WITHOUT A LOCK
Marcus read the order twice. After the required assessment and verification, the court approved Lily's return to his care, subject to ongoing child-welfare follow-up and protective restrictions barring contact from Vivian, Celeste, and anyone acting for them.
“Can I tell her?” he asked.
Denise smiled. “I think you should.”
Marcus knelt beside Lily's tower of blocks. “Would you like to come live with me?”
She tilted her head. “For how many sleeps?”
“As many as you want. We're going to build a regular home together.”
“Do I have to scrub it first?”
“No.”
“Do I have to earn my breakfast?”
He held both her hands. “You never have to earn a meal. You never did.”
On the drive to the apartment, Lily looked out at the streetlights. It was smaller than the mansion, with a yellow front door and a porch barely wide enough for two chairs. Hazel had left a casserole and a note: EVERY GOOD HOME NEEDS EXTRA NAPKINS.
Lily explored slowly. She checked the bedroom door three times.
“Does it lock?”
“Only from the inside, if you ever want privacy,” Marcus said. “And you can leave it open. I'll be right down the hall.”
That night she woke from a bad dream and found him in the kitchen making tea. He sat on the floor with her until her breathing settled.
“Daddy?”
“I'm here.”
“I don't remember what you used to look like before the water.”
Marcus touched the scar at his temple. “Neither do I, exactly. We can make new pictures.”
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In the morning Naomi called. The prosecutor had received a final piece of evidence from Gabriel: a recording of Brent explaining who ordered the explosion.
