Chapter 8 - MARIA ALMOST LEFTOne person nearly disappeared from our lives after the case.
Maria.
She gave notice.
I stared at the letter.
“Why?”
She looked down.
“It’s time.”
“Because of what happened?”
“Partly.”
“You think I blame you?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
She hesitated.
“I should have protected Lily sooner.”
I understood that guilt.
Too well.
“You recorded.”
“After weeks.”
“You stayed close to her.”
“I was scared.”
“So was I.”
She looked at me.
“No, sir. You didn’t know.”
“That isn’t the point.”
I folded the resignation letter.
“I’m not going to guilt you into staying.”
She almost smiled.
“But I need you to hear something before you decide.”
Maria waited.
“You were not responsible for Rebecca’s choices.”
Her eyes filled.
“You did what you could while someone controlled your job and threatened your family.”
“I could have called police.”
“Maybe.”
I refused to offer false absolution.
Maybe she could have acted faster.
Maybe I could have listened sooner.
Maybe Claire could have pushed harder.
But the person who inflicted the harm remained responsible for inflicting it.
Maria cried.
Then Lily came running into the kitchen.
“Maria!”
She stopped when she saw us.
“What happened?”
Maria wiped her face.
“Nothing, sweetheart.”
Lily looked at the paper.
“Are you leaving?”
Maria froze.
Lily’s face changed immediately.
“Because of me?”
That answered the question.
Maria crouched.
“No.”
“Then don’t.”
I looked away.
Maria laughed through tears.
“You are very bossy.”
“My mommy was bossy too.”
“Yes, she was.”
Maria stayed.
Not forever.
Two more years.
Then she opened a small catering business with her sister.
Lily helped design the logo.
A moon.
Maria said it was because of Hannah’s song.
May you like
Lily said it was because circles were easier to draw than flowers.
Both could be true.
