Chapter 3 - Wren Lied to Protect Herself"Daddy!"
Wren ran toward him.
Conrad dropped to one knee.
She collided with his chest so hard he nearly lost his balance.
He wrapped both arms around her.
Her hair still smelled faintly like shampoo.
Or maybe soap.
His stomach tightened.
"Hey, birdie."
That had been Elise's nickname for her.
Little bird.
Wren held him longer than usual.
Conrad looked over her shoulder.
Maureen smiled from the sofa.
"Someone had quite a day."
Conrad forced his face neutral.
"Really?"
Wren stiffened in his arms.
He felt it.
Maureen stood.
"Nothing serious. A little attitude. A spill upstairs."
Conrad looked at his daughter.
"What happened to your sweater?"
Wren pulled away.
"I'm wearing a dress."
"I know. Where's the sweater you had on this morning?"
Maureen answered.
"She got juice all over it."
Conrad looked at Wren.
Her eyes moved toward her grandmother.
Then down.
"It got dirty."
Conrad's heart cracked.
Not because she lied.
Because he knew why.
He touched her cheek.
"Did anything else happen?"
Wren's breathing changed.
"No."
Maureen crossed the room.
"There. You see?"
Conrad stood.
"See what?"
"She knows she was difficult."
Wren looked terrified.
Conrad wanted to show the videos immediately.
Instead, he smiled.
"Everybody has difficult days."
Maureen's expression tightened slightly.
"Children need consequences."
"Sometimes."
"Elise was always too soft."
Wren looked down again.
Conrad saw it.
Every mention of her mother was a weapon.
He turned toward Marisol.
"Could you help Wren pack a small bag?"
Maureen frowned.
"For what?"
Conrad kept his voice casual.
"My sister invited us over."
"Nina?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"Earlier."
"You're going tonight?"
"Just Wren and me."
Maureen watched him.
"Why?"
"Because I want to."
He hated how quickly his mother made ordinary decisions feel like interrogations.
Wren looked at him.
"Sleepover?"
"Maybe."
Her face brightened.
Then she looked toward Maureen.
The brightness vanished.
Conrad crouched again.
"Go with Marisol."
Wren didn't move.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Birdie."
She whispered:
"Is Grandma coming?"
Conrad's throat tightened.
"No."
The relief on her face was immediate.
Too immediate.
"Okay."
She hurried away with Marisol.
Maureen waited until they were upstairs.
Then her smile disappeared.
"What are you doing?"
"Taking my daughter to Nina's."
"Don't play games with me."
Conrad stared.
"I'm not."
"You come home early without calling. Now you're taking Wren away."
Maureen folded her arms.
"Marisol said something."
Conrad said nothing.
"I knew it."
"Why?"
"Because that woman has been poisoning you against me."
Conrad almost laughed.
"Interesting choice of words."
"What did she tell you?"
He studied his mother.
She didn't look guilty.
She looked annoyed.
That was worse.
"Should she have something to tell me?"
Maureen's face changed.
Only for a fraction of a second.
"No."
Conrad let the silence stretch.
His mother hated silence when she didn't control it.
"Where's Wren's necklace?"
Maureen blinked.
"What necklace?"
"Elise's silver pendant."
"I have no idea."
"Really?"
"Why would I?"
"You tell me."
Maureen stared.
Then laughed.
"Conrad, what is this?"
He wanted to say everything.
Instead:
"Did Elise leave anything important with Wren?"
The color drained slightly from Maureen's face.
There.
Conrad saw it.
"I don't know."
"You were close to her things after she died."
"Someone had to organize the house while you were falling apart."
"That isn't what I asked."
Maureen moved closer.
"Elise is dead."
Wren's footsteps sounded upstairs.
Conrad lowered his voice.
"Don't say that like it gives you ownership of what she left."
Maureen's eyes sharpened.
"Be very careful."
The words were quiet.
Familiar.
For the first time, Conrad wondered how often Wren had heard them.
Marisol came downstairs with Wren's backpack.
Wren followed.
Conrad took the bag.
"Ready?"
Wren nodded.
Maureen smiled sweetly again.
"Come kiss Grandma."
Wren stopped.
Conrad watched.
His daughter hesitated.
Then walked toward Maureen.
Maureen bent and kissed her forehead.
"Be good."
Wren whispered:
"I will."
Maureen held her shoulders.
"And remember what we talked about."
Conrad felt cold.
"What did you talk about?"
Maureen released Wren.
"Table manners."
Wren looked at the floor.
Conrad didn't challenge it.
Not yet.
They drove away five minutes later.
Wren sat in the back seat holding her stuffed rabbit.
Conrad took three turns before speaking.
"Birdie?"
"Yeah?"
"You're not in trouble."
"I know."
"No."
He looked at her through the mirror.
"I mean you're not in trouble for anything you tell me."
Silence.
He continued.
"No matter what Grandma said."
Wren's fingers tightened around the rabbit.
Conrad felt his heart pound.
"Did Grandma tell you I'd be angry if you talked about what happens when I'm gone?"
Wren didn't answer.
"Sweetheart."
Her eyes filled.
"She said you wouldn't believe me."
Conrad swallowed.
"She was wrong."
Wren began crying silently.
"She said Mommy already lied to you once."
Conrad pulled into an empty church parking lot.
He stopped the car.
Turned around.
"What lie?"
Wren's voice shook.
"That I'm yours."
The words hit him.
He reached for her hand.
"You are mine."
"Grandma says maybe I'm not."
"She's wrong."
"What if she's right?"
Conrad didn't hesitate.
"You're still my daughter."
Wren stared at him.
"Even if Mommy lied?"
"Even if the entire world lied."
She began crying harder.
Conrad moved into the back seat and held her.
For several minutes, nothing else mattered.
Then Wren whispered into his jacket:
"Grandma wants Mommy's key."
Conrad froze.
"What key?"
"The little silver one."
"Where is it?"
Wren pulled away.
Her face became frightened again.
"I can't tell you."
"Why?"
"Because Mommy said not to."
Conrad's heart stopped.
"Mommy told you that?"
Wren nodded.
"When?"
"Before she went to the hospital the last time."
Conrad could barely breathe.
Elise had deliberately given their five-year-old daughter instructions.
"What exactly did she say?"
Wren wiped her nose.
"She said if Grandma ever asked about the blue bird, I wasn't supposed to tell her."
Conrad stared.
"And did Grandma ask?"
May you like
Wren nodded.
"Lots of times."
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