Chapter 5 - Lucy Woke Up and Asked Me to Promise Something I Never Thought I Could GiveLucy survived.
But the bullet had fractured her shoulder.
She would need months of therapy.
Every day, I sat beside her.
I read books.
I brought toys.
I told her stories.
She told me about her mother.
Anna had worked three jobs.
She had tried to keep Lucy safe.
She had hidden documents.
She had warned Lucy about Ethan.
And she had told her something else.
“Mommy said Mr. Vincent would find me.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
Lucy pulled a small key from beneath her pillow.
“My mommy said this was yours.”
I stared.
“What does it open?”
“I don't know.”
I recognized the key.
It belonged to a safety deposit box.
One Claire had opened years ago.
I had forgotten about it.
We went to the bank.
Inside the box was a letter.
Claire's handwriting.
I couldn't breathe.
Vincent,
If you're reading this, something has happened to me.
I sat down.
The letter explained everything.
Claire had discovered Ethan's betrayal.
She had discovered Anna's investigation.
And she had discovered something about Lucy.
Lucy wasn't simply a homeless child.
Her mother had been protecting her from people who believed Lucy carried evidence against them.
Evidence hidden in a place no one would search.
Claire had planned to take Lucy.
She had planned to leave me.
Not because she stopped loving me.
Because she wanted to protect our son.
But the accident happened first.
I cried over the letter.
Then I read the final paragraph.
Vincent, if I fail, find Anna's daughter.
Protect Lucy.
She is innocent.
I looked at the little girl sitting beside me.
She was eating a cookie.
She looked up.
“Is Mommy there?”
I wiped my eyes.
“Yes.”
“Did she say anything?”
I nodded.
“She told me to protect you.”
Lucy smiled.
“No.”
She reached for my hand.
“She told me to help you live.”
I froze.
That was exactly what Samuel had said.
I looked at her.
“How did your mother know?”
Lucy shrugged.
“She knew everything.”
I smiled through tears.
Then I made a promise.
Not for one week.
Not for one month.
For life.
“Lucy Parker,” I said.
“Yes?”
“If you want…”
She looked at me.
“You can keep my last name.”
Her eyes widened.
“Forever?”
“Forever.”
She smiled.
May you like
And for the first time since Claire died, I felt something I'd thought was impossible.
Hope.
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