Baby Doll(30)

“Thank you very much.”

Dr. Amari smiled, and Lily knew without a doubt that she had raised her child well, in spite of Rick. As Sky clutched the bear, the nurses went to work, poking them both. Staring at the stuffed animal, Lily realized Sky could have anything she wanted now. Rick didn’t believe in spending money on frivolities. His money had to stretch—something he’d told her over and over again when she requested anything that wasn’t on his approved list. There were no limits now. Lily was in charge of their destiny. There were so many things she wanted. Music. Movies. Clothing. Her own clothes and underwear. She imagined what it might be like to buy whatever she wanted. She was both excited and overwhelmed at the prospect.

After breakfast, eggs and toast, simple, basic things since they weren’t used to rich foods, Lily and Sky both dozed off. Lily woke to her mother returning, loaded down with bags from the local Walmart, bags filled with jeans, T-shirts, underwear, and brand-new sneakers.

“I’m sorry I left, but I wanted to get you and Sky a few things.”

Lily smiled with gratitude. It was like her mother had read her mind. Lily ushered Sky into the bathroom and dressed her in a pair of jeans and a bright pink fuzzy sweater that Sky vowed never to take off.

Lily dressed herself, loving the bagginess of the black V-neck sweater that hung over her small frame, and the comfort of the dark blue jeans. Lily threw her hair up in a bun and headed back to the room with her family.

Abby had returned by then as well. She also wore fresh clothes—a gray maternity dress and leggings with knee boots. She’d combed her hair, and her lips were stained with pink gloss. Lily thought she’d never seen her sister look so confident and strong. Her full, round cheeks glowed, and her eyes shined brightly. Yesterday, Lily had been struck by Abby’s weight gain, but today, her sister reminded her of a Botticelli painting. All glorious curves and round edges.

Abby took out her iPhone and started snapping photos of Lily and Sky. Mom requested a group photo, so they called Carol in. Everyone gathered around looking at Abby’s phone, inspecting the photos, which continued to get sillier and sillier. Lily couldn’t believe how small and compact the phone was.

“We’ll get you one, Lily,” Eve offered up. The thought made Lily uncomfortable. Who in the world was she going to call?

Sky was fascinated by the phone too. She couldn’t stop staring at it, touching its buttons, looking at herself on the camera screen. She kept on posing and smiling and saying cheese. Lily was almost able to forget where she was, until Sheriff Rogers arrived.

“Morning. Sorry to interrupt.”

Eve jumped up quickly. “It’s okay, Sheriff. Come on in.”

Sheriff Rogers entered and gave everyone a courteous nod hello. “Lily, Eve, and Abby, I’d like to introduce Agent Janice Stevens from the FBI and her colleague Dr. Lynda Zaretsky. Agent Stevens has been nice enough to take over this investigation.”

Lily realized the sheriff wasn’t in charge anymore, and she turned her attention to the two women. Agent Stevens was tiny, immaculate in her appearance, her black hair tied in a severe bun. Dr. Zaretsky was at least five ten, statuesque with an athlete’s build.

“Lily, we appreciate you speaking with us today,” Agent Stevens said. “The doctors have said that you’re ready to be discharged, but it’s important that we get your statement on the record before too much time passes. Would that be okay?”

“Yes, of course. I want to make sure you know what Rick did. That everyone knows…”

“They will, Lily. The hospital has been kind enough to let us use one of their conference rooms for our interview. We’d like to record the proceedings for evidence. Would that be okay? Do we have your permission to record it?”

“Sure. I mean, yes, you have my permission,” Lily said, feeling awkward and uncertain.

“Good. My colleague Dr. Zaretsky will be conducting the interview. She’s a forensic psychologist and consultant with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Lily. Is there anything you need before we head downstairs?”

Lily took a moment to consider this. She kept imagining others she’d encounter: doctors, policemen, a kindly janitor lurking in the shadows, waiting to steal her away just like Rick. Lily wanted to run again, to take Sky and go someplace no one else could find them. But then she remembered Rick’s warning, “You’ve made a big mistake,” and she had to prove him wrong. This was her chance. The world needed to know who Rick Hanson was. No matter how difficult it was, Lily had to tell them.

“I’m ready.”

Her throat grew tight when she realized that Sky couldn’t hear what she had to say. Sky knew that Rick sometimes made Lily cry, but she always blamed herself, always said she’d been naughty. It was all the other things Sky didn’t know about Rick and who he was. Things she’d hoped her child would never know about.

“Sky, Mommy needs you to be a big girl and stay here with your grandma Eve. Can you do that?”

Lily tried to convince herself that Sky was okay, that she wasn’t affected by all the changes that had happened in the last twenty-four hours. But something in that moment triggered Sky and she lost it, her terror on full display.

“No! No! No! Don’t leave me. Please, Mommy. Don’t leave me,” she screamed out. Sky clung to Lily, and Lily realized that for the first time ever, Sky had disobeyed her. But Lily couldn’t expect Sky to function in the real world as she had in confinement. She stared at her weeping daughter, feeling lost, as if she was failing as a parent in the most public way possible. Mom appeared and sat down beside them on the bed. She spoke to Sky in a soft, soothing voice.