She whispered, “Okay.”
Ethan helped her change into pajamas.
It was the middle of the afternoon, but Lily said she wanted something soft.
He found her favorite gray sweatpants and an oversized blue sweatshirt.
When she emerged from the bathroom, Vanessa could be heard downstairs.
Closet doors opening.
Drawers closing.
A suitcase rolling across the floor.
Lily became quiet.
Ethan noticed immediately.
“Do you want to stay up here?”
“Yes.”
“I’m going to call Aunt Caroline.”
His younger sister lived fifteen minutes away.
Lily loved her.
“Can she come here?”
“She’ll be here as fast as she can drive.”
Lily nodded.
Ethan took out his phone.
Caroline answered immediately.
“I thought you were in Chicago.”
“I came home early.”
“Lucky Vanessa.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
“Caroline, I need you to come over.”
His sister became serious.
“What happened?”
“I’ll explain when you get here.”
“Is Lily okay?”
Ethan looked at his daughter.
“She will be.”
That answer was enough.
“I’m leaving now.”
Twelve minutes later, Caroline Caldwell entered through the front door without knocking.
She was thirty-four, five years younger than Ethan, and one of the few people in his life who had never been intimidated by him.
She found Ethan in the kitchen.
Vanessa’s suitcase stood near the foyer.
“What happened?”
Before Ethan could answer, Lily appeared at the top of the stairs.
“Aunt Carrie?”
Caroline looked up.
“Oh, sweetheart.”
Lily ran down.
Caroline opened her arms.
Lily hugged her.
Caroline immediately looked at Ethan over the child’s shoulder.
Something is wrong.
Ethan nodded once.
Vanessa came down moments later carrying a second bag.
She had changed out of the cream dress and into jeans and a blouse.
Her face was composed again.
“Caroline.”
Caroline looked from Vanessa to the suitcases.
“Going somewhere?”
“Apparently.”
Ethan stepped forward.
“Your car is waiting.”
Vanessa looked at him.
“Can we speak privately?”
“No.”
“For five minutes.”
“No.”
“You owe me that.”
Caroline’s eyebrows rose.
Ethan looked at Lily.
“Carrie, could you take her into the family room?”
Vanessa sighed.
“Of course. Send the child away so we can discuss the child.”
Ethan’s head snapped toward her.
Caroline saw the warning in his expression.
“Come on, Lily.”
She took the girl’s hand.
“We’ll find that movie you keep telling me about.”
Lily walked with her but turned before leaving.
“Daddy?”
“I’m staying right here.”
She nodded.
Only after she disappeared did Ethan look at Vanessa.
“Five minutes.”
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“You are destroying our marriage because a child doesn’t like being disciplined.”
“No.”
“You saw ten seconds of something and decided I’m a monster.”
“I saw my seven-year-old daughter on her knees crying while polishing your shoes.”
“You saw the end of a situation.”
“Then tell me the beginning.”
“She ruined my dress.”
“Accidentally.”
“She has been testing me for months.”
“She is seven.”
“Stop saying that like seven-year-olds are incapable of manipulation.”
Ethan stared at her.
Vanessa continued.
“You’re never here. You have no idea how she behaves.”
“Then tell me.”
“She ignores me. She refuses meals. She talks back. She leaves toys everywhere. She deliberately mentions Laura whenever we disagree because she knows exactly what it does.”
Ethan’s expression changed at the sound of his first wife’s name.
Vanessa noticed.
“There. That.”
“What?”
“That look.”
“What look?”
“The one everyone gets when Laura is mentioned.”
Ethan stepped back.
“This is about Laura?”
Vanessa laughed bitterly.