Chapter 1 - Daddy, I’m Not Finished Yet
At 11:47 on the Friday before Christmas, Nathan Cole stepped out of a black sedan in front of his own house. Nobody knew he was home.
For six weeks, the widowed CEO had been in Seattle negotiating the biggest acquisition in Colewell Foods history. His mother Margaret had called nightly with cheerful reports about his eight-year-old daughter Lily. “She’s wonderful. You focus on business. I’ll take care of my granddaughter.”
Nathan believed her.
He entered through the side door expecting Christmas music and Lily’s running footsteps. Instead, he saw Margaret, his younger brother Aaron, Aaron’s wife Vanessa, and their children eating roast beef and pie beneath chandeliers and garlands.
Lily’s chair was empty.
Then he heard scraping from the living room.
His daughter was on her knees beneath the Christmas tree, wearing an oversized sweatshirt and yellow rubber gloves, scrubbing the hardwood floor beside a bucket.
“Lily?”
She spun around. Joy flashed across her face.
“Daddy!”
She started to rise, then dropped back to her knees in terror.
“Daddy, I’m sorry. I’m not finished yet.”
Nathan crouched. “Finished with what?”
“The floor.”
“Why are you cleaning?”
She glanced toward the dining room. “Grandma said I can eat when everything shines.”
Nathan went cold.
He removed one glove. Her little hand was red and chapped. A fading bruise circled her wrist.
“Who did this?”
“I was bad.”
“No child gets bruised because she was bad.”
Margaret entered holding wine. Her face went white.
“Nathan? You were supposed to be in Seattle.”
“That seems to disappoint everybody.”
Vanessa hurried in. “Lily wanted to help.”
Nathan looked at Lily. “Did you?”
Margaret snapped, “Don’t encourage lying.”
Lily flinched.
Nathan stepped between them.
“Go get your coat, sweetheart.”
Margaret protested. “She needs discipline.”
“She needs dinner.”
“She has become manipulative since Sarah died.”
Nathan looked at the feast. Aaron’s children were eating pie. Beneath the tree sat dozens of presents. He had shipped fourteen gifts for Lily. None remained.
“Where are Lily’s presents?”
Vanessa folded her arms. “You spoil her.”
Lily whispered, “Grandma said Santa changed his list.”
Nathan stared at Margaret.
“You took Christmas from an eight-year-old?”
“I taught her gratitude.”
He lifted Lily into his arms. She felt too light.
Against his shoulder she whispered, “Please don’t leave me alone with Grandma again.”
Nathan looked at Margaret.
“Why?”
Lily trembled. “Because when Grandma gets really mad, Uncle Aaron holds the door shut.”
Aaron’s fork hit the floor.
Nathan did not shout.
May you like
“Everybody stays exactly where they are.”
For the first time that night, Margaret looked afraid.
