Chương 2 - The Snack in Her PocketEthan reached the house in twelve minutes.
Diane was in the kitchen making tea.
She looked offended, not nervous.
“What is wrong with you?”
“Where’s Lily?”
“Upstairs.”
“Why was she outside alone?”
“She wandered out.”
“She said she was waiting for me.”
Diane rolled her eyes.
“She’s been emotional since Rachel died.”
That sentence used to calm him.
Now it made him angry.
He took the stairs two at a time.
Lily sat on her bed with her knees pulled to her chest.
When she saw him, relief crossed her face so quickly it hurt.
“Daddy.”
He sat beside her.
“I got the video.”
Her eyes dropped.
“Am I in trouble?”
“No.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
She slowly opened her cardigan pocket.
Inside were half a granola bar, two crackers wrapped in a napkin, and three grapes crushed against the fabric.
Ethan stared.
“Why are you keeping food in your pocket?”
Lily said nothing.
“Baby, are you hungry?”
A tiny nod.
“There’s food downstairs.”
Her face tightened.
“Aunt Diane says I snack too much.”
“How much did you eat today?”
“Toast.”
“And?”
She whispered, “That was breakfast.”
It was almost seven at night.
Ethan stood so fast Lily grabbed his sleeve.
“Don’t tell her.”
He looked down.
“Why?”
“She said if I make trouble, you’ll send me away.”
His chest went cold.
“I would never send you away.”
Lily began crying without sound.
That frightened him more than screaming would have.
Then she whispered, “Mommy said you’d say that.”
Ethan sat again.
“What else did Mommy say?”
Lily looked toward the bedroom door.
Then reached beneath her mattress.
She pulled out an old photograph.
Rachel holding Lily as a baby.
Something was written on the back.
IF LILY STARTS HIDING FOOD, CHECK THE BLUE FILE.
Ethan read it twice.
“What blue file?”
Lily pointed toward Rachel’s old home office.
“Aunt Diane took it.”
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The hallway floor creaked.
Someone was standing outside the bedroom door.
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