Vanessa slid the green juice toward her. “Her digestion is delicate. I’m terrified she’ll eat something unhealthy at school. Better she stays home. I’ll supervise her lessons and her detox plan. It’s cleansing her system.”
Michael nodded, trusting her confidence. He didn’t notice Lily’s trembling hands as she forced the drink down.
A sharp crash broke the moment. Rosa Martinez, the longtime housekeeper, had slammed a tray onto the counter. Her eyes burned as she glanced at the green glass, but under Michael’s questioning look, she lowered her head and walked away.
As Michael prepared to leave for a business trip to Denver, Lily tugged at his pant leg and handed him a crumpled drawing.
The house was crooked. Every window was painted black. In the center stood a tiny figure hugging her knees. The figure had no mouth.
“Did you draw this?” he asked softly.
Lily nodded.
“It’s just an artistic phase,” Vanessa laughed lightly. “Don’t overthink it. You’ll miss your flight.”
The heavy door closed behind him, but the image of the mouthless girl stayed with him.
Half an hour later, his flight was canceled due to a severe winter storm. Frustration mixed with an unexpected relief. He turned back.