Chapter 2
I didn't want to tell Dad about the paper.
Not because I'd done anything wrong.
Because Vanessa told me something terrible would happen if I opened my mouth.
Earlier that morning, while Aunt Nia was helping decorate the ballroom, Vanessa asked me to fetch her lipstick.
She said it was inside her burgundy handbag.
I carried the bag to the dressing table.
When I opened it, a folded white envelope slipped onto the floor.
My name was written across the front.
LILY CARTER.
I recognized the handwriting.
It belonged to my mother.
I had seen it on birthday cards.
On the back of family photographs.
And inside the little book she used to read before bed.
I picked up the envelope.
My heart started beating faster.
Then Vanessa walked in.
"What are you holding?"
I looked up.
"It's from Mommy."
Her expression changed immediately.
"Give me that."
I pulled it closer.
"But it has my name."
Vanessa snatched it from my hands.
"That doesn't mean you can open it."
I began crying.
"Please."
She shoved the envelope inside her bag.
"Listen carefully, Lily."
I froze.
"If you tell your father about this, he'll be very upset."
I shook my head.
"Why?"
"Because your mother left things behind that were supposed to stay private."
I didn't understand.
Mommy had been gone for three years.
Why would a letter make Dad angry?
I reached toward the bag.
"Can I please have it?"
Vanessa grabbed my wrist.
"No."
Then she leaned closer.
"And if you mention that envelope at tonight's celebration, I'll make sure you don't look like a little princess anymore."
I thought she was trying to frighten me.
I didn't believe she'd really hurt my hair.
Now I knew she meant every word.
Aunt Nia led me into the guest bedroom.
She closed the door and knelt beside me.
I was still crying.
My scalp felt strange.
Cool air touched the shaved side of my head.
The other side was heavy with curls.
I didn't want anyone to see me.
Aunt Nia wrapped a soft blanket around my shoulders.
"Sweetheart, look at me."
I shook my head.
She waited.
Then whispered, "You are safe with me."
I slowly lifted my face.
Her eyes filled with tears.
She touched my cheek.
"Vanessa had no right to do that."
I began sobbing.
"She cut Mommy's hair."
Aunt Nia looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
I touched my remaining curls.
"Mommy used to brush it."
My aunt pulled me close.
"Oh, baby."
I cried against her shoulder.
"I don't look like Mommy anymore."
Aunt Nia held me tighter.
"Lily, your mommy is part of you."
I shook my head.
"But she liked my hair."
"She loved you."
Her voice broke.
"Every single part of you."
I wanted to believe her.
Then the door opened.
Dad stepped inside.
He had removed his black suit jacket.
His face looked exhausted.
He sat on the floor beside us.
"Lily."
I turned away.
I didn't want him looking at me.
He moved closer.
"Sweetheart, can I hold you?"
I nodded.
He lifted me carefully onto his lap.
Then wrapped his arms around me.
"I'm so sorry."
I began crying again.
He kissed my forehead.
"What happened was wrong."
I touched the shaved part of my head.
"Am I ugly now?"
Dad's face crumpled.
"No."
I looked at him.
"Promise?"
He nodded.
"You're beautiful, Lily."
I swallowed.
"Even without my curls?"
"Always."
Then he whispered something I had never heard him say before.
"Your hair belongs to you. Nobody has the right to punish you by cutting it."
I hugged him tightly.
For a while, nobody spoke.
Then Dad looked toward Aunt Nia.
"Did you see everything?"
She shook her head.
"I came in after Vanessa started."
Dad closed his eyes.
Aunt Nia continued.
"But Lily's tablet was recording."
I froze.
Dad looked up.
"What?"
My aunt nodded.
"I saw the recording light."
Dad stood carefully, still holding me.
He looked toward the hallway.
"Where's the tablet?"
"In the dressing room."
My stomach tightened.
I grabbed his shirt.
"Daddy, no."
He looked down.
"What's wrong?"
I began shaking.
"Vanessa will get mad."
His expression softened.
"Sweetheart, she is not going to hurt you again."
I wanted to believe him.
But I remembered the envelope.
The warning.
The way Vanessa smiled while cutting my hair.
I looked toward Aunt Nia.
She noticed my fear.
"Lily, is there something else?"
I shook my head.
Dad stroked my back.
"You can tell us anything."
My throat tightened.
Then I whispered, "Vanessa said I wasn't supposed to tell."
Dad became still.
"Tell what?"
I looked toward the door.
Aunt Nia gently closed it.
Then she came back.
"Nobody else is listening, sweetheart."
I took a shaky breath.
"Mommy wrote me a letter."
Dad's expression changed.
"What letter?"
I wiped my cheeks.
"It was in Vanessa's bag."
Aunt Nia looked at Dad.
His jaw tightened.
I continued.
"It had my name on it."
Dad swallowed.
"Did you read it?"
I shook my head.
"She took it."
My voice broke.
"She said you would be angry if I told."
Dad closed his eyes.
For several seconds, he didn't speak.
Then he looked at me.
"Lily, I would never be angry with you for finding a letter from your mother."
I started crying again.
He held me.
Then Aunt Nia asked quietly, "Marcus, did Danielle leave letters for Lily?"
Dad nodded slowly.
"Yes."
My heart stopped.
He looked toward the floor.
"Before she died, Danielle wrote letters for Lily's future birthdays."
Aunt Nia covered her mouth.
I stared at him.
"Mommy wrote more?"
Dad's eyes filled.
"She did."
I began crying.
"Where are they?"
He took a breath.
"That's what I need to find out."
Then Aunt Nia's phone rang.
It was the event coordinator.
She answered.
Her expression changed.
"Marcus, you need to hear this."
Dad looked up.
"What happened?"
My aunt swallowed.
"Vanessa just told the staff the gala is canceled."
Dad frowned.
"Why?"
Aunt Nia looked toward me.
Then whispered, "She says Lily had an emotional breakdown and destroyed her own hair."
I stopped breathing.
May you like
Vanessa wasn't only trying to hide what she'd done.
She was trying to make everyone believe I'd done it to myself.
