Chapter 10: The Swing Set
Six weeks after Daniel left, Lily used the swing set for the first time.
I didn't make a production of it.
I was pulling weeds from the garden bed along the fence when I heard the chains creak.
I looked up.
She was pumping her legs, figuring out the rhythm, her face set with concentration.
I went back to the weeds.
After a few minutes she called out, "Can you push me?"
I stood up, walked over, and pushed her.
Not hard.
Just enough.
She laughed.
It was the first time I had heard her laugh.
Not a polite smile, not a careful almost-laugh.
A real one — surprised out of her, like it caught her off guard.
I pushed her again.
She laughed again.
Ruth came through the back gate twenty minutes later with groceries and stopped when she saw us.
She stood there for a moment.
Then she set the bags down by the gate and came to sit on the back step.
She didn't say anything.
She just watched.
Later, when Lily had gone inside to wash her hands, Ruth said, "She looks different."
"She is different."
"So do you."
I looked at the swing, still moving gently on its own.
"Patricia called yesterday," I said.
"The formal process is moving forward.
Lily's specialist says she's doing well.
Better than expected."
"And Marcus?"
"Still in custody.
The DA says the case is strong."
"Daniel?"
"His attorney entered a plea last week.
He'll serve time.
Not as much as Marcus.
But time."
Ruth nodded.
"And Raymond Hale?"
"Charged.
Resigned.
His name is in the papers."
Ruth was quiet for a moment.
"What about you?
What do you need?"
I thought about it honestly.
"I need to find Donna Reyes," I said.
"She saved Lily.
She wrote that note and kept those records and she never got to know that anyone found them.
She deserves to know."
Ruth looked at me.
"Do you know where she is?"
"Not yet.
But I'm going to find out."
The back door opened and Lily leaned out.
"Can I have a snack?"
"What do you want?"
She thought about it.
"Apple slices.
With the peanut butter."
"Go wash your hands again.
I'll be right in."
She disappeared back inside.
Ruth picked up her grocery bags.
"You're good at this," she said.
"I'm learning."
"No." She shook her head.
"You were already good at it.
You just needed the right kid to show you."
She went inside.
May you like
I stood in the backyard for another moment, looking at the swing.
Then I followed them in.
