Chapter 2: The Letter Under My Desk
I dropped to my knees and pulled Lily into my arms.
She wrapped both arms around my neck, burying her wet face against my shoulder. Her small body trembled so violently that I could feel every shudder through my suit.
“It's okay, sweetheart,” I whispered.
“I've got you.””
“I tried to give it to you,” Lily sobbed.
“But Vanessa took it away.””
I stroked her hair.
“You did nothing wrong.””
“She said Mommy was a bad person.””
My hand stopped moving.
Behind me, Vanessa let out an impatient breath.
“Lucas, this has gone far enough. The child is upset, and you're making everything worse by encouraging her.””
I turned around without releasing Lily.
“Go back to the ceremony.””
“Excuse me?””
“You heard me.””
“I'm your bride!””
“And she's my daughter.””
Vanessa's face flushed.
“You promised me we were going to start a new family. You promised I wouldn't always come second.””
I stared at her, stunned by the timing of the accusation.
“She's six years old, Vanessa. This isn't a competition.””
“You always say that!””
“Because you keep acting as if it is.””
Her mouth tightened. She looked toward the open bathroom door, where the envelope rested against Lily's chest.
Then she did something I couldn't forget.
She reached for the envelope.
Lily screamed and pressed it against herself.
“Don't take Mommy's letter!””
Vanessa froze when she realized I was watching.
“I only want to make sure she doesn't tear it,” she said quickly.
“Step away from her.””
“Lucas, you're being ridiculous.””
“Step. Away.””
She backed up, but her eyes never left the envelope.
I carried Lily into the adjoining bridal suite and sat with her on a velvet sofa. The room smelled of hairspray, roses, and the champagne someone had poured for the wedding party. Through the wall, I could hear guests whispering and the faint, confused murmur of the musicians.
Lily wouldn't release my sleeve.
“Daddy?””
“I'm listening, baby.””
“Are you mad at me?””
The question hurt more than anything Vanessa had said.
I cupped Lily's cheeks.
“Never for telling me the truth.””
“But Vanessa said you'd be angry if I talked about Mommy today.””
I swallowed hard.
“Why would she say that?””
Lily looked down at her flower bracelet.
“She said Mommy was gone, and we shouldn't keep talking about her. She said if I wanted you to be happy, I had to stop making you sad.””
For two years, I'd tried to protect Lily from the grief that had nearly swallowed me. I'd packed away Emily's hospital paperwork, avoided certain songs, and changed the subject whenever memories became too painful.
I'd never told Lily to forget her mother.
But perhaps my silence had made her believe she had to do it for me.
“Listen to me,” I said gently.
“You can talk about Mommy whenever you want. You can miss her every day. You can ask questions. And nobody gets to punish you for that.””
Lily nodded, tears gathering in her eyes again.
Then she handed me the envelope.
My name was written across the front in Emily's familiar handwriting.
Lucas.
Just my name. No date. No explanation.
I recognized the slight upward curve of the final letter, the tiny ink smudge near the corner. Emily used to make that same mark on the notes she slipped into my lunch bag when we were dating.
My fingers began to tremble.
“Where did you find this?””
“Under your desk. Behind the wooden box.””
I frowned.
The little wooden box had belonged to my grandfather. I'd kept it in my home office for years, mostly because Emily had once joked that it looked like something a pirate would hide treasure inside.
I hadn't opened it since before she died.
“How did you know it was there?””
“Vanessa told me to clean the office because she said there was too much of Mommy's stuff in it.””
A cold sensation moved through my chest.
“What happened next?””
Lily took a shaky breath.
“I saw the envelope inside the box. I knew Mommy's writing, so I picked it up. Vanessa came in, and she grabbed it.””
“What did she say?””
“She said it was private. Then she read the first page, and her face looked funny.””
“Funny how?””
“Like when you look at the mail from the bank.””
Despite everything, I almost smiled.
Then Lily continued.
“She called somebody on her phone. She said, 'He can't find out. Not before the wedding.''”
My smile disappeared.
“Did you hear who she was talking to?””
Lily nodded slowly.
“She said a man's name.””
“What name?””
Before she could answer, someone knocked sharply on the suite door.
“Lucas?”” Vanessa called.
“We need to talk.””
I tucked the envelope inside my jacket.
“Not now.””
“Please. Just let me explain.””
“Then explain through the door.””
Silence.
Then she said, “Emily wasn't honest with you about everything.””
I stood so quickly that Lily flinched.
I immediately softened my voice and kissed the top of her head.
“I'm sorry, baby. That wasn't your fault.””
Another knock sounded.
“Lucas,” Vanessa continued, “you have to understand that I was trying to protect our future.””
I walked to the door but didn't open it.
“From a dead woman's letter?””
“From something she wanted you to believe.””
“What did she write?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
I waited.
Finally, she whispered, “She accused someone of doing something terrible. She had no proof, and she knew it.””
“Who did she accuse?””
“Please don't open that letter here.””
I glanced down at Lily, who was watching me with frightened, searching eyes.
Then I pulled the envelope from my jacket.
The flap had been carefully resealed. Someone had already opened it.
I slid my finger beneath the edge and withdrew a folded sheet of paper and a photograph.
The first line made my knees feel weak.
Lucas, if you're reading this, then someone has finally found what I was too afraid to tell you.
I read the next sentence.
Then the next.
My fingers went numb.
Emily hadn't written a farewell letter.
She'd written a warning.
And the photograph tucked inside showed her standing beside a man I trusted more than anyone alive.
May you like
My best friend.
Daniel Mercer.
