He cleared his throat. “Okay, Dolly,” he said carefully. “Are you sure? Because you’ve been Tilley for so long.”
He sounded sad, and it broke Tilley’s heart to disappoint him. She was good, she wanted to tell him. She was as clear and lucid and, dare she say, happy as she had been in as long as she could remember. She didn’t want to hurt him like this. But it was the best way, the only way to clear her conscience while also not destroying his life. The truth without the truth.
“You are such a good son to notice,” she said. There, she had broached it.
He looked puzzled for a moment, but then took a step closer. “Tilley, I’m your nephew, Robbie. Remember? Amelia is my sister. Your sister Elizabeth is my mom.”
Tilley shook her head. “No, you are my son. They took you away from me because they thought I couldn’t raise you.”
Robbie nodded slowly, and it concerned Tilley that there seemed to be the tiniest flash in his eyes, like maybe some small inside part of him believed her. But then he said, “Okay, Tilley. ImeanDolly. Let’s get you a tall glass of water in the house and get you some rest.”
Tilley decided that she would go for one last inflection point before she allowed him to take her away so that, if he ever looked back on this moment, if he ever discovered the truth, he would know she had tried to be honest with him. “Robbie, sweetheart, my boyfriend died. I was all alone and drowning in my madness. And Elizabeth had to take you. It was the only way.”
Robbie shook his head and took her arm and led her up to the house. “It has been thirty years since I’ve seen that movie, but I swear I don’t remember that part.”
“What movie?” Tilley asked, playing dumb. This was perfect. It was exactly what she wanted. He thought she was playing a role, not unburdening herself of her deepest secret.
Elizabeth was sitting on the back porch of Dogwood and rushed down to help Robbie when she saw her sister in a sequined gown and a headdress of feathers. It was incredible how, onstage, the costume could be so fabulously chic. And then how, only hours later, in a totally inappropriate setting, it could be a symbol of certain madness.
Robbie shook his head at Elizabeth. “I haven’t seen her this bad in a long time.”
Tilley had acted before in her real life. Many, many times. But this, she believed, was the performance of her lifetime. She had told the truth, even if it wasn’t in the most honest way she could have. Robbie was still happy. Elizabeth was still happy. Tilley felt her conscience somewhat cleared.
She thought of George, who had called her every night since he had left town. Who had sent her flowers and a bottle of bourbon. Andso, now, with her son handled, she had one more thing she needed to do, one more man she needed to let know of her intentions. But not today. Because, for now, Elizabeth was babying her while chattering on that the play had been too much. Even as her sister said it, Tilley knew she was wrong. It was quite the opposite, in fact. The play hadn’t hurt her. Not at all. The play had brought Tilley back to life.
DAISYBaby Trauma
I was absolutely exhausted from my second twelve-hour shift of the week. I felt a little bleary-eyed picking Maisy up from day care. Even so, the moment I saw her sweet face, it was like the fog lifted.
I had tried all day to avoid the very real thought that I had made the most incredible mess of my relationship. Mason still hadn’t called. And, well, why should he? I had told him not to. Somewhere deep down, I had hoped that Amelia would explain my outburst, and he would have some sympathy… Anyway, I checked my phone at the stoplight for the millionth time. No missed call. No text. I even tapped my email app. Because Mason would email me? Why would he even have my email address?
As I pulled onto the street, I looked in my rearview mirror at Maisy. She was facing the back seat, of course, but one of the moms had given me a little mirror to hang on the headrest so I could see her sweet face. She put her hand up to touch one of the toys that was hanging over her car seat. She was very advanced. I smiled. Even on a bad day when work had been challenging and Mason and I were in a terrible place, that baby girl was what was important. I was holding mybreath, knowing that at any moment, she could—and likely would—be taken from me.
My heart skipped a beat as my town house came into view, and a truck I recognized was parked there. He had come back! Maybe it was just for a clean break, I told myself, trying to manage my expectations. But at least I would have a chance to plead my case.
As I pulled in, a car I didn’t recognize pulled in right behind me, almost touching my bumper, in a way that made me uneasy. I got the feeling that whoever this was didn’t want me to leave. Mason practically jumped out of his truck and ran to the car behind me. Before I had a chance to get out, I could see that the driver was Cheryl. And, from the look on her face, she was here on a mission. I didn’t want to leave Maisy in the car, but I couldn’t risk getting her out. So I rolled down my window a quarter of the way, and I could hear Mason saying, “Cheryl, let’s talk through this.”
She stormed up to the car window. “I want my granddaughter. Right now!”
Mason was behind her, and he locked eyes with me through the glass. “Cheryl,” I said, as calmly as I could muster. “I can see that you are upset, and you and I both agree that we have a lot to work out here. But, for this moment, I am Maisy’s legal guardian, and it is my job to keep her safe.”
“Keep her safe!” she squealed at me. “I am hergrandmother. She ismine!” Her face was red and splotchy, and I was glad I was locked in the car. Cheryl pulled on the door handle, and Mason gently took her arm.
“Cheryl, look. We can work this out, but you can’t just steal a baby—”
“Why not?Shedid!” Then she spun around to Mason. “Andyou! You knew the whole time, and you just let my grandchild be taken by a stranger!”
Mason took a step back and crossed his arms. I could tell that that infuriated him. “No, ma’am,” he said. “We won’t take that. We had no idea that Drew was this baby’s father. We had no idea that Sarah was her mother. If you’ll recall, I found her in adumpster, and Daisy nursed her in the hospital and has been caring for her full-time since. We will not be blamed.” He took a deep breath, then lowered his voice. “Cheryl, you are right. You are her grandmother. And I am so sorry. But this is not my fault. It isn’t Daisy’s fault. She has provided love and care for this abandoned baby. And it’s not your fault because you didn’t know. Neither did Drew.”
Cheryl looked back in the window at me, then back at Mason. “Are you sure Drew didn’t know?”
I was terrified of this woman, but, through the crack in the window, I called out, “I am one hundred percent positive that Drew didn’t know.”
“We don’t even have proof or anything,” Mason said. “We just started putting some pieces together. All we have tried to do is protect Sarah and Drew.”
I nodded. “Cheryl, the police came for them, and Mason was so quick. He handled everything.”
Cheryl took a deep breath and smoothed her dress, looking in the back window. “Can I at least see her?”
