In this one, Vanessa claimed Ruth had criticized Daniel for allowing Lily to become attached to her stepmother.
I shook my head.
"Ruth has never said anything like that."
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"She told me Claire's side of the family thought I'd moved on too quickly."
I looked at him.
"Did you believe her?"
He hesitated.
"Part of me did."
The admission hurt.
But I understood why.
Grief had already left us sensitive and defensive. Vanessa hadn't needed to invent an entirely new problem. She had taken existing fears and gently encouraged them to grow.
Daniel continued.
"She said you were becoming uncomfortable around Lily because seeing her reminded you too much of Claire."
I stared at him.
"That's why the visits became so difficult?"
He nodded.
"I thought you wanted distance."
I shook my head.
"I thought you wanted distance."
We looked at each other.
For almost two years, each of us had believed the other was withdrawing.
Neither had been told the truth.
Daniel covered his face.
"What have we done?"
I moved my chair closer.
"We let somebody else do too much of our talking."
His shoulders trembled.
I rested a hand on his arm.
"We can't change those months. But we can stop letting it happen."
He nodded.
Then he reached into one of the shopping bags.
He removed a beautiful pink dress.
It had short puffy sleeves, delicate sparkling fabric, and a full skirt that shimmered beneath the kitchen light.
I gasped.
"That's lovely."
Daniel looked at it.
"Lily picked it for the school celebration."
I touched the fabric.
"Has she worn it?"
He shook his head.
"She tried it on once. Vanessa said it was too fancy."
I looked at him.
"Too fancy for what?"
He gave a sad laugh.
"Apparently, everything."
He folded the dress carefully.
"She asked whether she could show it to you."
I smiled through tears.
"Then I'd love to see her wearing it."
Daniel nodded.
"That's what I told her."
He looked toward the dress.
Then he said quietly, "I don't know what Vanessa is going to say when I confront her."
I took a breath.
"Then don't make the confrontation the most important thing."
He looked up.
"What's more important?"
"Lily."
He nodded immediately.
I continued.
"She needs to know the adults are going to handle this. She shouldn't have to defend her father, accuse her stepmother, or prove that she deserves kindness."