Chapter 21
Claudia remained quiet for nearly three months.
Then a birthday card arrived for Lily.
There was no return address, but we recognized the handwriting.
Sarah stared at the envelope.
“What do you think?”
“I think it’s your decision.”
“No. It’s Lily’s.”
We spoke with Lily’s counselor first.
Then we asked Lily whether she wanted the card.
“Is it from Grandma?”
“Yes.”
“Did she write something mean?”
“We don’t know.”
Lily thought about it.
“Can you read it first?”
We did.
The card contained no apology.
It said Claudia missed her.
It said families sometimes made mistakes.
It said she hoped Lily would remember the “many happy years” they had shared.
At the bottom, Claudia had written:
You will always have a home with me.
Sarah read that line three times.
Then she asked Lily if she still wanted the card.
Lily shrugged.
“Not really.”
Sarah placed it back in the envelope.
“You’re sure?”
“Yeah.”
Then Lily looked at her mother.
“Do you want it?”
Sarah smiled sadly.
“No.”
May you like
We placed it in the documentation folder.
And went out for ice cream.
