The Doll with the Message
Chapter 13 - The Doll with the Message
The parcel arrived addressed to Lucy in beautiful looping handwriting. A security officer intercepted it and gave it to Adrian. Inside was a porcelain doll wearing a blue ribbon and a note: “Remember who kept you safe when Daddy forgot you.”
Adrian felt sick. He passed the package to Lucy's therapist rather than showing it to her. The therapist agreed the note was inappropriate and advised maintaining clear boundaries around contact.
Lucy noticed her father was tense that evening. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No. Somebody made a bad decision, and it's my job to deal with it.”
“Are they coming to take me?”
“No one is taking you away because you made a mistake.”
She looked at him for a long moment, then returned to her puzzle.
Meanwhile, I faced a choice of my own. An elementary school in Rockford offered me a part-time classroom aide position while I completed my degree. It was modest pay, but it was real progress toward the life I'd wanted before my mother became ill.
I told Lucy I might visit less often. Her eyes filled. For a moment, I nearly promised to stay forever. Instead, I explained that people could care about each other and still work in different places. We made a calendar for our calls and agreed to exchange drawings.
Adrian listened without trying to intervene. Later he said, “A year ago I would've offered to double your salary.”
“And now?”
“Now I think I should say congratulations.”
I smiled. “That's a start.”
The court issued protective conditions limiting Vivian's contact with Lucy while proceedings continued. Adrian complied with the process, even when impatience made him restless.
That week Rose visited our little rented house, where I was packing books. She brought a loaf of homemade bread and thanked me for listening to her daughter when nobody else did.
May you like
Then she asked a question that surprised me.
**“Emma, can you promise you won't mistake Adrian's gratitude for love?”**
