Chapter 131: Healing

Three weeks after severing ties with David, Lily began to emerge from her funk. The bags under her eyes receded. She laughed more. She stopped checking her phone every five minutes.

“She’s turning a corner,” her therapist told her. “It was important for her to distance herself.”

Rowan saw the pain underneath. The way Lily recoiled when someone brought up fathers. The way she changed the subject when Emma talked about Asher.

“Give her some time,” Asher said. “She’s reprocessing grief again. That takes however long it takes.”

The adoption process was plugging along. Sandra filed the last batch of paperwork, and the court hearing was scheduled six weeks out.

“After that, she’s yours legally,” Patricia explained. “Permanently. No one can challenge it. No one can take her from you.”

“Not even David?”

“Not even David. He never established paternity. He never exercised parental rights. He has no standing.”

The news should have been a relief, but it brought more guilt. Lily would be legally hers, yes. But at what price? A father she barely knew but desperately wanted?

Emma seemed to sense Lily’s turmoil. She insisted on including her in everything—homework time, movie nights, trips to the park with friends.

“You’re being very sweet to your sister,” Rowan said.

“She’s sad. When I’m sad, you make me feel better. So I’m trying to do the same for her.”

“That’s very mature of you.”

“I’m eight and a half now. Practically an adult.”

Oliver had no such conflict. He adored Lily unconditionally. He crawled to her when she entered a room. He cried when she left. Pure, unfiltered baby love.

“At least one person in this family appreciates me,” Lily said one afternoon, Oliver asleep on her lap.

“We all appreciate you.”

“I know. But Oliver’s appreciation is less conditional. He just wants me here. He doesn’t care about my drama.”

“We don’t care about your drama either. We care about you.”

“It’s the same thing.”

“It’s really not.”

Four weeks after the break with David, a letter arrived. Not email. Actual handwritten letter. From Hannah Harrington.

Lily stared at the envelope for a full minute before opening it.

Dear Lily,

I’m sorry. For the messages. For being cruel. For blaming you for something that wasn’t your fault.

My therapist says I was displacing my anger. That I was mad at my dad but taking it out on you because it was easier. She’s probably right.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it must have been like for you. Finding out you had a dad you never knew. Half-siblings who treated you like garbage. That must have sucked.

I don’t know if we can be sisters. I don’t know if I’m ready for that. But I wanted you to know I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve what we did to you.

Hannah

Lily read it three times before showing Rowan.

“What do I do?”

“What do you want to do?”

“I don’t know. Part of me wants to write back. Part of me wants to throw it away.”

“Both are valid choices.”

“What would you do?”

“I’d probably write back. But I’m not thirteen. I didn’t just get attacked by my half-siblings. You get to decide what feels right for you.”

Lily thought about it for two days. Finally, she wrote back.

Dear Hannah,

Thank you for apologizing. That took courage.

I don’t know if we can be sisters either. But maybe we can be something. Not enemies, at least.

I’m not trying to replace you or steal your dad. I just wanted to know where I came from. I hope someday you can understand that.

Lily

She mailed it before she could second-guess herself.

“Now what?” she asked Rowan.

“Now we wait. See what happens. No expectations.”

A week later, Hannah responded. Not a letter this time. A friend request on a new Instagram account Rowan had helped Lily set up. Private. Monitored. Safe.

Lily accepted. They followed each other. No messages. No likes. Just acknowledgment that the other existed.

“Baby steps,” Rowan said.

“Really small baby steps.”

“Still steps.”

The adoption hearing came on a Tuesday morning. They dressed up—Rowan in a suit, Lily in a dress Emma had helped her choose. Even Oliver donned a tiny blazer that made him look ridiculous and adorable.

Judge Patricia Moore took the bench. The same judge who had presided over Emma’s adoption hearing two years earlier.

“We meet again, Ms. Vance,” Judge Moore said with a smile.

“Building a family one child at a time.”

“A noble pursuit.”

“The record will reflect it.”

The hearing was perfunctory. Sandra testified about Lily’s situation—parents dying, a year in foster care, then reconnecting with Rowan. Patricia presented documentation. Lily’s foster home caseworker spoke to how much Lily had thrived in the Vance household.

“Lily, do you want to be adopted by Rowan Vance?” Judge Moore asked.

“Yes, Your Honor.”

“And you, Rowan, do you understand that adopting Lily means full parental responsibility? Financially, emotionally, legally?”

“Yes, Your Honor. I understand completely.”

“Very well.” Judge Moore signed the papers. “Adoption granted. Lily Marie Hayes is now Lily Marie Vance. Congratulations.”

Emma cheered. Oliver gurgled. Lily dissolved into tears.

“Happy tears,” she managed. “I promise. Happy tears.”

Outside the courthouse, they took photos. The five of them—Rowan, Asher, Emma, Lily, and Oliver. A family. Official and legal and real.

“Can we get ice cream?” Emma asked. “To celebrate?”

“It’s ten in the morning,” Rowan said.

“Exactly. Celebration ice cream doesn’t have to follow normal rules.”

They got ice cream. Sat in the park despite the November chill. Watched Oliver try to eat his with minimal success.

“I have two moms now,” Lily said suddenly. “Linda, who raised me. And you. Is that weird?”

“No. Not weird. Lucky. Some people don’t get any moms who choose them. You got two.”

“And one biological mom who gave me away.”

“Three moms, then. All of whom made different choices at different times. All of whom contributed to who you are.”

“I like that. Three moms. That’s a lot of moms.”

“It’s exactly the right number.”

On the way home, Lily’s phone buzzed. A text from David.

Congratulations on the adoption. I saw the announcement Sandra sent. I’m happy for you. You deserve a family who shows up.

Lily showed Rowan. “Should I respond?”

“If you want to.”

Lily typed slowly. Thank you. Maybe we can talk again someday. When things are calmer.

His response was immediate. I’d like that. Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.

“He’s not going anywhere,” Lily repeated. “That’s something, right?”

“That’s everything.”