Chapter 16 - The Grave
They brought David to the cemetery on a gray Thursday morning.
No media.
No Julianne.
No attorneys standing beside him.
Only two marshals waited near the road.
His hands were cuffed in front.
I stood several yards away.
He looked smaller than I remembered.
For a long time, he did not move.
Then he walked toward Lily’s grave.
Her stone was simple.
LILY ANNE VANCE.
2019 - 2026.
BELOVED DAUGHTER.
OUR BRIGHTEST LIGHT.
David stopped.
His face folded.
He sank onto his knees.
I turned away.
His crying carried through the cold air.
Not loud.
Not performative.
Broken.
He touched the engraved letters with two fingers.
“Hi, bug.”
That had been his nickname for her.
I shut my eyes.
“I’m sorry Daddy didn’t come.”
His voice cracked.
“I’m sorry.”
He stayed there for nearly twenty minutes.
When he stood, mud covered his knees.
He looked toward me.
“Thank you.”
I nodded once.
Then he said something unexpected.
“I’m pleading guilty.”
“I know.”
“To all of it.”
I looked at him.
“Your lawyer agreed?”
“He doesn’t.”
“Why are you doing it?”
David glanced toward Lily’s grave.
“Because every defense sounds like another lie.”
For the first time in years, he sounded honest.
“I stole the money.”
“I forged the story even if Rebecca forged the signature.”
“I lied to you.”
“I cheated.”
“I saw the hospital number.”
“I chose not to answer.”
He swallowed.
“No lawyer can change any of that.”
I studied him.
“Do you expect forgiveness?”
“No.”
The answer came immediately.
“Good.”
He nodded.
“I only want you to know I finally understand.”
I shook my head.
“No, David.”
His expression tightened.
“You understand what it cost you.”
“That isn’t the same as understanding what it cost Lily.”
He lowered his eyes.
I turned to leave.
“Maya.”
I stopped.
“There’s something you don’t know about the fifty calls.”
My body froze.
I turned slowly.
“What?”
David looked terrified again.
Not of prison.
Of me.
“The last call.”
“What about it?”
“I answered it.”
The cemetery disappeared around me.
“No.”
“For three seconds.”
I could barely speak.
“My records said unanswered.”
“I picked up.”
“I heard something.”
My heartbeat became deafening.
“What did you hear?”
May you like
David stared at Lily’s grave.
“Her.”
