Chapter 3
I knew Robert had lost Claudia too.
But something still felt wrong.
“Why couldn’t Claire look at me the next day?”
“Maybe she was embarrassed about the money.”
“She gets to hold her daughter every night.”
My voice broke.
“I don’t.”
“Mel, not today.”
Something inside me hardened.
For two weeks, everyone had decided what I could handle.
He started to speak again.
I stopped him.
“You don’t get to do that anymore.”
His hands tightened around the table.
That told me enough.
I turned toward the stairs.
“Where are you going?”
“To get dressed.”
My body still hurt. I had to sit just to put on my shoes.
Then I grabbed my keys.
I was going to Claire’s.
Claire opened the door with Ivy against her shoulder.
The sight froze me.
Ivy made a tiny complaining sound and turned toward Claire’s neck.
Alive.
Warm.
Breathing.
Everything Claudia wasn’t.
Claire stepped back.
“I didn’t know you were coming.”
“I know she’s Ivy.”
Her expression shifted.
“What?”
“Willie saw you at the hospital.”
Claire’s eyes widened.
“What?”
“He saw Robert give you money.”
“Melanie…”
“He saw you leave with a crying baby.”
Her shoulders dropped.
“For two weeks, he’s been saving money because he thought he could buy Claudia back.”
“The money was for me,” Claire said.
“What else are you relieved I know?”
“I’m not relieved.”
“You are.”
Claire looked down at Ivy.
The baby shifted against her chest, and my gaze followed.
Claire noticed.
Her expression changed.
“Mel, I didn’t come to the hospital to take anything from you.”
“I know Ivy is yours.”
“I know you know that now.”
She adjusted the baby’s blanket.
“But you’re still looking at her like you’re trying to understand what Willie saw.”
I swallowed.
“Then help me understand it.”
Claire nodded slowly.
“Robert gave me the money for rent and groceries. I asked him not to tell anyone. I was ashamed.”
“And Ivy?”
“I had nobody to leave her with. Mom was with Willie, so I brought her.”
“And Robert held her.”
Tears filled Claire’s eyes.
“I’d never seen him like that.”
She paused.
“Then Ivy started crying, and he asked if he could hold her.”
My throat tightened.
“And you let him?”
“Of course.”
She looked down at her daughter.
“The second I put her in his arms, he just… broke.”
Claire briefly pressed her cheek to Ivy’s hair.
“He kept saying Claudia’s name. He kept saying Claudia and Ivy were supposed to grow up together.”
I stared at the baby.
Two cousins.
Two birthday cakes.
Two backpacks beside a door.
A future we had imagined before either girl could even hold up her head.
“And you let him?”
I looked away.
“He didn’t do anything wrong with Ivy, Mel.”
“I know.”
Willie had connected two separate events because he was frightened and only eight.
But Claire still wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“He didn’t do anything wrong.”
“What happened after Robert gave Ivy back?”
Claire hesitated.
“Mel…”
“No.”
My voice hardened.
“I’ve had enough people choosing which truth I’m allowed to hear.”
Her eyes filled.
“Robert needs to tell you.”
“Then give me the question I need to ask.”
Claire looked down at Ivy.
May you like
Finally, she whispered:
“Ask him if he said goodbye to Claudia.”
