She wasn’t asking me to give her Lily.

She was asking whether I had ever understood how deeply she wanted a child.

“Yes,” I said.

Claire looked up.

“If I had decided I couldn’t raise her, you would have been the first person I considered.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“But that wasn’t my decision.”

“No.”

“It was yours.”

“Yes.”

She nodded.

Then she started crying. Not dramatically.

She simply covered her mouth and turned away.

Mom immediately stepped toward her.

Claire raised one hand.

“Don’t.”

Mom stopped.

Claire wiped her cheeks.

“You told me Emily had already decided.”

Mom remained silent.

“You told me she was scared to tell me because she thought I would consider her irresponsible.”

Still nothing.

“You told me the attorney was only making the arrangement official.”

“Claire—”

“You lied to me too.”

“I was trying to help both of you.”

“No. You were trying to make everything happen the way you wanted.”

Dad interrupted.

“Your mother thought—”

Claire stood up.

“You don’t get to defend her.”

He fell silent.

Claire walked over to the car seat.