Chapter 2 - The Room Lily Was Told to Use
Three hours earlier, the house had looked perfect.
Pink and gold balloons framed the staircase.
A six-layer birthday cake sat beneath a glittering number six.
Champagne waited for the adults.
Lily had chosen the yellow unicorn dress herself.
Claire had expected the party to be awkward.
She had not expected it to become dangerous.
Patricia had organized the celebration after insisting she wanted to repair their relationship.
For months, she had complained that Claire kept Lily away from the family.
Claire had answered honestly.
“You treat Madison like a princess and Lily like an inconvenience.”
Patricia denied it.
She said Claire was jealous of David.
She said Lily was too sensitive.
Then she offered to host Lily’s sixth birthday.
Against her instincts, Claire agreed.
The first warning appeared before the guests arrived.
Patricia had ordered a pink cake decorated with Madison’s name.
When Claire pointed out the mistake, Patricia did not apologize.
“The bakery confused the girls.”
Claire looked at the gold letters.
Madison’s name appeared twice.
Not once.
David quietly removed the decorations and replaced them with candles.
The second warning came when Patricia presented Madison with a tablet.
Lily received a coloring book.
“It isn’t Madison’s birthday,” Claire said.
“She had a good report card.”
“So did Lily.”
Patricia smiled.
“Not from a private school.”
Claire almost took her daughter home.
Lily begged to stay.
She wanted to blow out the candles.
She wanted one photograph beside the balloons.
And she wanted to believe her grandmother had invited her because she mattered.
At two o’clock, Lily said she felt tired.
Claire had been helping a neighbor carry gifts inside.
Patricia offered the upstairs guest room.
“She can rest until the cake.”
Claire carried Lily upstairs.
The room looked normal.
Fresh sheets.
A small lamp.
The beige stuffed rabbit tucked beside the pillow.
Claire left the door open several inches.
“I’ll be right downstairs.”
Lily nodded sleepily.
Ten minutes later, Patricia asked Claire to help move champagne from the garage refrigerator.
Robert remained near the stairs.
David stood beside the cake.
Madison played with her tablet.
When Claire returned, the guest-room door upstairs was closed.
May you like
She assumed Lily had shut it.
Now, watching Robert’s terrified reaction, she understood someone else had.
