Chapter 3 - A Duck in Deep Water
At the hospital, Lily sat on an exam bed wearing a borrowed sweatshirt with a cartoon moon across the front. The doctor listened to her lungs twice and kept her for observation. She was alert, but every time she closed her eyes, her fingers searched for mine.
"You don't have to tell me anything now," I said.
"Then will that lady be arrested?"
I couldn't answer. I had shouted for security without asking what Nora had done.
Lily drew a crooked yellow duck on a sheet of hospital paper. "It was floating next to the big blue line. I thought it was for the little kids."
"Were you alone?"
She nodded. "I asked Miss Vivian where you were. She said you went through the side door. She opened it and told me to hurry. Then I saw the duck."
"Did she see you fall?"
Lily's pencil stopped. "I screamed. She was looking at me."
I felt cold all over. "And then?"
"She didn't come. The wet lady came."
Before I could ask another question, my phone flashed with a clip posted by the Briarwood parents' group. Someone had filmed me yelling at Nora. The caption read: LOCAL INSTRUCTOR GRABS CHILD AT FUNDRAISER.
Nora's face was clear. Mine was furious. The clip started after Lily was already out of the water.
My sister Grace called a second later. "Caleb, tell me you didn't accuse a woman of hurting Lily in front of fifty phones."
"I thought she--"
"Thinking isn't the same as knowing. Anna would tell you that."
May you like
Hearing my wife's name made me wince. Grace softened her voice. "Come home with Lily. I'll help you find out the rest."
A new message appeared from an unknown number: IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY THE GATE WAS OPEN, ASK WHAT HAPPENED TO NORA'S REPORT ON MONDAY.
