Not relief.
He had spent weeks telling himself someone better should take Lily.
Here stood a married aunt with a large house, stable income, blood relationship.
Better.
Theoretically.
His stomach revolted.
He hated that.
He looked toward the garage office.
Lily was inside with homework.
“She knows you?”
“I’m her aunt.”
“That wasn’t the question.”
Rachel’s expression hardened.
“Aaron kept her away.”
“Aaron said you didn’t visit.”
“He poisoned her against me.”
“She’s eight.”
“You think that means he couldn’t?”
Wade exhaled.
“Talk to Denise.”
Rachel stepped closer.
“I already have an attorney.”
“Of course.”
“You have no business raising that child.”
The sentence hit.
Because Wade had said the same thing to himself.
Rachel saw.
“You know I’m right.”
Wade looked toward her.
For the first time since Lily entered his home, he considered letting go.
Then Lily appeared in the office doorway.
She had heard voices.
“Aunt Rachel?”
Rachel’s face transformed.
Tears.
“Lily.”
She moved forward.
Lily stepped backward.
Wade noticed.
Rachel did not.
“Oh my God, look at you.”
She reached.
Lily moved behind Wade.
Rachel stopped.
Pain flashed across her face.
Real.
Wade felt sympathy despite himself.
Rachel looked at him.
“What did you tell her?”
“Nothing.”
Lily answered.
“Dad said you yell.”
Wade closed his eyes.
Aaron.
Rachel’s face changed.
“Your father and I had disagreements.”
“You didn’t come when Mom died.”
Silence.
Wade looked down at Lily.
That was new information.
Rachel swallowed.
“I…”
“You sent flowers.”
“Lily.”
“I remember.”
She was younger then than adults assumed memory required.
Children remembered emotional absences.
Rachel crouched.
“I made mistakes.”
Lily held Wade’s vest.
Rachel looked at the tiny hand gripping leather.
Her expression hardened again.
“This is not healthy.”
Wade’s temper surfaced.
“Enough.”
Rachel stood.
“I’ll see you in court.”
She left.
That evening Wade sat on the porch.
Lily joined him.
“You’re not making me go, right?”
Wade’s chest tightened.
“I don’t decide alone.”
She looked terrified.
He corrected quickly.
“I’m not sending you anywhere.”
The words left before fear could stop them.
Lily stared.
“Promise?”
Promises are supposed to work.
Wade swallowed.
“I promise I will tell the judge I want you here.”
That was the first time Wade admitted it.
Not temporarily.
Not three days.
Not until someone better.
He wanted her.
The realization terrified him.
Lily nodded.
Then leaned against his arm.
Wade looked toward the yard.
Aaron, wherever death put him, was probably insufferably pleased.
The court evaluation lasted two months.
Rachel’s challenge forced everything into sharper review.
Home visits.