Inside were several carefully folded outfits.
At the bottom lay the pink coat he had shown me in the photograph.
It still smelled faintly of new fabric.
He lifted it.
Then he looked at me.
"She wore this for pictures."
I swallowed.
"Maybe she didn't like it."
Daniel shook his head.
"She picked it herself."
He stared at the coat.
"I was there."
For a long time, neither of us spoke.
Then he turned toward the room's doorway.
"I'm going to talk to my daughter."
I immediately shook my head.
"Daniel, please don't make her feel she's in trouble."
He looked back.
"I won't."
"She's already frightened."
His face changed.
He nodded.
"Then I need to make sure she knows she can tell me anything."
I watched him place the coat gently back in the closet.
Before ending the call, he looked directly at me.
"Margaret, I owe you an apology."
I felt tears rising.
"For what?"
"For letting somebody stand between us."
I shook my head.
"We both let it happen."
He swallowed.
"Not anymore."
The call ended.
I sat at the kitchen table, staring at my daughter's photograph.
For the first time in two years, Daniel and I had spoken openly.
But I had a terrible feeling that discovering the truth about Lily's clothes was only the beginning.
That evening, Daniel called me again.
His voice was different.
Quieter.
More careful.
"Margaret, I talked to Lily."
I sat down immediately.
"Is she all right?"
"She's with me."
I closed my eyes.
"Thank goodness."
He took a breath.
"I didn't ask her to choose between anybody. I just told her I loved her and wanted to understand how she felt at home."
I nodded.
"And?"
Daniel was quiet.
Then he said, "She asked if Vanessa would get angry."
My heart sank.
He continued.
"I told her she wasn't in trouble for telling the truth."
I held the phone tightly.
"What did she say?"
Daniel swallowed.
"She said Vanessa makes her change clothes before your visits."
I closed my eyes.
"Why?"
There was a long pause.
Then he answered.
"Because Vanessa told her you didn't like seeing her in nice things."
I stared.
Daniel continued.
"She said you thought wearing new clothes meant Lily had forgotten Claire."
Tears filled my eyes.
"Oh, my God."
"She thought she was protecting your feelings."