Chapter 13 - Emma Asked Diane One Last Question
Emma did not need closure from Diane.
But she wanted an answer.
Two years after the attack, she agreed to one supervised conversation.
Michael offered to come.
Emma declined.
“This one is mine.”
Diane entered the visitation room older.
Smaller.
Her silver hair had gone almost completely white.
She looked at Emma.
“How is Lily?”
“Safe.”
Diane flinched.
Good.
Emma sat.
“I have one question.”
Diane waited.
“You knew who my mother was before Michael and I married.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell us?”
Diane looked down.
“The trust.”
“That explains the money.”
Emma leaned forward.
“Not the wedding.”
Silence.
Finally Diane answered.
“If Michael knew you were a Hale, he would ask questions.”
“About James?”
“About everything.”
“Thomas?”
“Yes.”
Diane's voice cracked.
“Once one lie opened, all of them would.”
There it was.
No brilliant conspiracy.
No noble motive.
Fear.
Diane had built one lie to protect another.
Then another.
Then another.
Until a baby became a threat simply by existing.
Emma asked:
“When you looked at Lily, did you really hate her?”
Diane started crying.
“I saw James.”
Emma remained still.
“He was my brother.”
“I know.”
“He always told me I couldn't control people.”
Emma almost laughed.
“He was right.”
Diane wiped her face.
“When Lily was born, it felt like he had come back to expose me.”
“She was a baby.”
“I know.”
“You threw her over a railing.”
Diane closed her eyes.
“I know.”
Emma waited for an excuse.
None came.
Diane whispered:
“There isn't a sentence that makes that forgivable.”
Emma was surprised.
Diane finally understood at least that much.
“Correct.”
Diane looked at her.
“Do you forgive me?”
“No.”
The answer came easily.
Diane nodded.
Emma continued:
“But I'm not spending my life hating you either.”
That seemed to hurt more.
“You don't get that much space in our family anymore.”
Emma stood.
Diane asked:
“Will Lily ever know me?”
Emma turned.
“She'll know the truth when she's old enough.”
“Will she know I'm her grandmother?”
Emma considered the word.
Then answered:
“She'll know exactly who you are.”
Emma walked out.
Michael waited outside.
He didn't ask what Diane said.
He simply opened his arms.
Emma hugged him.
“How do you feel?” he asked.
“Finished.”
That was the word.
Not victorious.
Finished.
They drove home.
Lily ran toward Emma as soon as the door opened.
“Mommy!”
Emma lifted her.
May you like
Lily laughed.
And Diane's bloodline suddenly seemed like the smallest thing in the world.
