Chapter 6 - The Brother She Was Afraid to Lose
Ethan moved in with the Monroes three weeks after Lily’s first overnight.
He called from a bedroom with blue curtains and a dog asleep across the doorway.
“His name’s Pickles,” Ethan announced.
“That’s a terrible name,” Lily said.
“He already knows it.”
“Then he’s stuck.”
Ethan laughed.
Behind him, David Monroe carried in a lamp and asked where he wanted it.
The ordinary question made Lily’s chest ache.
After the call, she became unusually helpful.
She folded towels without being asked.
She cleared every plate.
She told Rosa the dinner was delicious even though she hated mushrooms.
Adrian recognized the effort before he understood its meaning.
On Sunday, Lily asked whether she should stop calling Ethan so often.
“Why?”
“Because he has a real family now.”
“You’re still important to him.”
“He might get tired.”
“Has he said that?”
“No.”
“Then let’s let Ethan tell us what he feels.”
She shook her head.
“People don’t tell you until your bag is packed.”
Adrian brought the conversation to her therapist, Dr. Patel, rather than trying to solve it with a grand gesture.
Together, the adults made a schedule the children could understand.
Tuesday video calls.
Saturday afternoons twice a month.
Extra contact when everyone’s routines allowed.
The first Saturday, the Monroes came to Adrian’s house.
Rachel brought brownies in a scratched baking pan.
David brought Pickles, who immediately stole a gardening glove.
For ten minutes, the children acted like strangers.
Then Ethan knocked over a stack of wooden blocks.
Lily accused him of cheating.
Their argument filled the sunroom with familiar noise.
Adrian stood in the doorway, unexpectedly relieved.
Rachel joined him.
“He’s been worried she’ll think he abandoned her.”
“She’s been worried he won’t need her.”
Rachel watched the children rebuild.
“Those two could exhaust a committee.”
“They’ve already exhausted several.”
She smiled.
Over lunch, Ethan announced he wanted Lily at his school concert.
Lily shrugged.
“If I’m busy, maybe.”
She asked Adrian about the date three times that evening.
The concert was held in a public elementary school gym.
Adrian sat between Lily and Rosa on a folding chair that threatened to surrender beneath him.
When Ethan stepped onto the riser, he searched the audience.
Lily raised Captain above her head.
Ethan grinned.
Afterward, another parent recognized Adrian.
Her gaze moved from his watch to Lily’s scar.
“Is she the little girl from the article?”
Lily went still.
Adrian answered quietly.
“She’s here to celebrate her friend.”
The woman flushed.
“I only meant—”
“I know. Enjoy your evening.”
In the car, Lily stared through the window.
“Are people always going to ask?”
“Some might.”
“Can I tell them it’s none of their business?”
“Yes.”
“Even politely?”
“Especially politely.”
She practiced twice.
Then, unexpectedly, she asked about Emily.
“What was her favorite song?”
Adrian tightened his hands on the steering wheel.
“A very loud one about a frog.”
“Was she good at singing?”
“Enthusiastic.”
“That means bad.”
“Sometimes very bad.”
Lily smiled, then grew serious.
“Do you like me because she’s gone?”
He pulled into a quiet parking space before answering.
“I met you because I went somewhere I wouldn’t have gone before. But I like you because you’re Lily.”
“What if you get another daughter?”
“I’m not interviewing replacements.”
She watched him.
“Emily has her place,” he continued. “You don’t have to stand in it.”
That night, Lily asked to see one photograph.
He brought a small frame from his study.
Emily was wearing rain boots and holding a worm.
Lily examined it carefully.
“She looks bossy.”
“She was.”
May you like
“Good.”
She placed the frame on the shelf, leaving space beside it for Ethan’s school picture.
