Chapter 14
Margaret’s appeal failed.
The call came on a rainy afternoon.
Mara said, “It’s over.”
I stood in the hallway, holding Lily on my hip.
Over.
Such a small word for a mountain falling.
“She stays in prison?”
“Yes.”
I leaned against the wall.
Lily grabbed my hair and babbled into my ear.
I laughed and cried at once.
Claire came over with takeout.
We ate noodles on the living room floor while Lily crawled between containers like she owned the place.
“She does,” Claire said when I told her.
“She owns us all.”
That night, I opened the hall closet.
Inside were boxes I had avoided.
Wedding photos.
Baby shower cards.
Gifts from Margaret.
A silver rattle engraved with Lily’s initials.
I picked it up and felt nothing.
Not fear.
Not rage.
Nothing.
So I placed it in a donation box.
Claire watched from the doorway.
“Big day?”
“Yes.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
I kept one photo.
Not from the wedding.
Not from the baby shower.
A picture Mr. Wilson’s wife had taken at Lily’s six-month party.
Me holding Lily.
Claire laughing beside us.
Robert in the background trying to tape a streamer to the wall and failing.
Messy.
Real.
Safe.
I put it in a frame beside Lily’s crib.
The next morning, I changed my last name back to Monroe.
May you like
Not because Hale had ruined me.
Because Monroe had been mine first.
