Chapter 26 - The next breakfast
Three years after the frying-pan incident, Emma was seven.
Lily was eleven.
We had breakfast together at my apartment.
Not Diane’s house.
My choice.
Owen brought Lily.
Diane came later.
Vanessa did not attend.
Her contact with Emma remained nonexistent by Emma’s preference, though Lily’s relationship with Vanessa had progressed to structured unsupervised daytime visits after years of review.
Emma wore pajamas.
Not yellow sweatshirt.
That one had eventually become too small.
Lily sat at the end of the table.
Emma sat beside her.
Then Lily got up for juice.
Emma slid into Lily’s chair deliberately.
I saw it.
Lily returned.
Looked at Emma.
Emma grinned.
“Your seat.”
Lily stared.
Then laughed.
“Move.”
“No.”
“Rachel!”
I stood at the stove.
“Work it out.”
Both girls stared.
Then Lily pulled another chair beside Emma.
Problem solved.
Diane watched.
Her face changed slightly.
Maybe remembering.
I looked at the frying pan in my hand.
New one.
Light aluminum.
No symbolism required.
I put eggs onto plates.
Diane said nothing.
Good.
Later Emma asked:
“Was this the kind Aunt Vanessa had?”
My hand stopped.
“Yes.”
“Did she hate me?”
“No.”
Emma frowned.
“She hit me.”
“Yes.”
“Then?”
I thought.
“She was very angry and made a dangerous choice. People can care about someone and still do things that make them unsafe.”
“Do I have to care about her?”
“No.”
“Does Lily?”
“That’s Lily’s choice.”
Emma nodded.
Then:
May you like
“Can I have more eggs?”
Life continued.
