Chapter 14 - Three Years After Lily Knocked on My Door, She Asked Me the One Question I Had Been Afraid to HearLily was six now.
She stood in the kitchen holding a photograph.
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“Why did Mommy hide me?”
Moretti looked at Clara.
Then at Lily.
It was time.
He told her the truth carefully.
Her mother had been afraid.
People had wanted to hurt their family.
But Lily had never been unwanted.
Never.
“You were loved from the moment you were born.”
Lily looked at Clara.
“Even when Daddy didn't know me?”
Clara's eyes filled with tears.
“Especially then.”
Lily smiled.
Then she hugged them both.
Moretti realized something.
The truth didn't always destroy families.
Sometimes lies did.
That evening, Lily asked to see the old mansion.
Moretti hesitated.
Then agreed.
They drove there together.
The house looked smaller now.
The private hallway was dark.
Lily walked toward the door where she had once knocked.
She touched it.
“This is where I found Daddy.”
Moretti smiled.
“Yes.”
She looked up.
“I'm glad I knocked.”
May you like
He knelt.
“So am I.”
