“Then why invite him?”
Tony’s eyes filled.
“Because Lily is running out of time.”
Robert had wanted to come earlier, but Tony refused. No meeting would happen unless Lily and I agreed. He arrived only to ask before the chance disappeared forever.
“I kept waiting for the perfect moment to tell you,” Tony said. “Then I realized we might not have another one.”
“You had no right.”
“I know.”
“Finding him may have come from love, but bringing him here was not your decision.”
“You’re right.”
Before I could answer, Lily’s voice came from behind us.
“Why are you whispering?”
She sat near the entrance in a wheelchair and pajamas after waking alone and calling reception.
I was furious with Tony, but the decision was no longer ours.
It belonged to Lily.
PART 3: EVERYONE WHO CAME FOR HER
Upstairs, we explained that Adam’s father was waiting below.
“Your biological grandfather,” I said. “His name is Robert.”
Inside the envelope was an old photograph of Robert standing beside ten-year-old Adam. Lily touched her father’s face.
“He has my eyes.”
“Does Robert want to meet me?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want me to meet him?”
“I want you to choose.”
Lily turned to Tony.
“Did you bring him here?”
Tony nodded.
“I should have told your mom.”
“Is he nice?”
“I think so,” Tony said. “But you don’t owe him anything.”
Lily looked at the photograph again.
“I want to see him.”
Robert entered carrying only a small wooden music box.
“This belonged to your father,” he said.
A gentle tune played when Lily opened it.
“What was Dad like when he was ten?”
Robert smiled through tears.
“He loved pancakes, hated tying his shoes, and once tried to keep a frog in the bathtub.”
Lily laughed.
“What happened?”
“Your grandmother screamed. The frog escaped and ended up in her laundry basket.”
That ordinary story meant more than any grand apology.
Then Lily asked to return to the ocean.
