Before leaving, she handed Lily an envelope.
Rachel shook her head slightly.
“Later.”
Her grandparents arrived ten minutes afterward.
Her grandfather inspected the repaired window from the yard. Her grandmother asked whether Lily’s school offered advanced classes.
Before leaving, she handed Lily an envelope.
“You deserve every advantage.”
That night, Lily carried the towel-wrapped package into my room.
Lily looked toward the bounce house.
“I already have one.”
That night, Lily carried the towel-wrapped package into my room.
Inside was a heavily taped shoebox.
“Aunt Rachel said Mom left this for me.”
The box contained five letters, a flash drive, and a notarized statement.
The statement confirmed that Julia had preserved the recordings with the participants’ knowledge. It instructed Rachel and Julia’s lawyer to hold them until Lily turned ten.
“You look like you might throw up.”
Lily would then decide whether they remained private.
My hands started shaking.
“Dad?”
“I’m okay.”
“You look like you might throw up.”
“That’s also possible.”
We gathered the others in the living room.
The next file was a saved video call.
Julia appeared on the screen wearing the red scarf she used during treatment.
“If Lily is watching this, she is ten, and I have missed too much.”
She explained that her parents had offered her a house, private schooling, and lifelong financial support.
There was one condition.
She had to separate from me and allow them to become the children’s primary guardians.
The next file was a saved video call.
Her father’s voice filled the room.
“Love is admirable, Julia, but it is not enough.”
“And what happens to my husband?”
Her mother spoke next.
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