Chapter 1 - The Question No One Wanted to Answer
Back 0:15 / 10:27 AD VDO ×
Lily looked down at her wet hands.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Behind them, laughter rose again from the living room as someone began counting down for another photograph.
Three.
Two.
One.
A camera flashed.
Lily flinched.
Owen noticed.
He crouched in front of her and gently took both of her cold hands in his.
“Sweetheart,” he said quietly, “who told you to clean all of this?”
Lily’s eyes moved toward the kitchen doorway.
Then back to him.
“Grandma said everyone has to help.”
Owen glanced at the overflowing sink, the trash bag, the stack of dessert plates, and the sticky counter where frosting had dried in pale pink smears.
“Are Madison and Harper helping too?”
Lily shook her head.
“They’re opening presents.”
“Did you open yours?”
Her chin lowered.
“No.”
The answer landed with a strange heaviness.
Owen had brought three wrapped gifts that afternoon and placed them beneath the tree himself.