Chapter 12 - LILY’S BOUNDARY
Three years after the foyer incident, Lily told me she was leaving.
This time for good.
Ethan was four.
He loved her.
She loved him.
But she had been accepted into graduate school for child psychology.
I wanted to offer more money.
Didn’t.
That surprised even me.
Instead:
“I’m proud of you.”
She laughed.
“You’re not going to double my salary?”
“I was going to.”
“I know.”
“Would it work?”
“No.”
We prepared Ethan gradually.
No disappearing caregiver.
No sudden goodbye.
Calendar.
Visits.
New nanny introduced slowly.
On Lily’s last day, Ethan cried.
So did she.
I did not use his pain to keep her.
That was one of the most important lessons Serena accidentally taught me.
Love is not a contract created by another person’s distress.
Lily remained in our lives.
Birthdays.
Occasional visits.
May you like
Not because she owed us.
Because she chose to.
