Chương 3 - THE BOX BEHIND THE DRAWER
Gabe went home six days later.
Against medical advice, according to Cole.
Apparently stubbornness also survived motorcycle crashes.
Megan refused to bring Avery immediately.
Three days passed.
Then Gabe called himself.
“Mrs. Collins.”
“Megan.”
“Megan.”
His voice was rough.
“You saved my life.”
“The paramedics did.”
“Your daughter found me.”
“Yes.”
“Can I thank her?”
Megan looked through the kitchen window.
Avery was outside arranging stones into a line.
“I need rules.”
Gabe almost laughed, then winced audibly.
“Ribs?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
He paused.
“That sounded hostile.”
“I meant good that you're alive enough for laughing to hurt.”
“Much kinder.”
Megan’s rules were simple.
No interrogating Avery.
No asking her to “contact” Lily.
No testing her.
No recording.
No media.
No using anything Avery said as evidence for anything.
Gabe agreed to all of it before Megan finished.
They drove to his farmhouse outside Franklin.
Several motorcycles stood near the barn.
Iron Haven members were nearby but kept their distance.
Gabe sat on the porch.
One arm supported.
Bruising fading along his face.
Avery stopped when she saw him.
For the first time since the crash, she looked shy.
Gabe did too.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
Then Avery held up a paper bag.
“I brought cookies.”
“Best visitor I've had.”
She walked closer.
He did not call her Lily.
Did not stare like she was a ghost.
Megan appreciated that.
After twenty minutes Avery asked:
“Do you have Lily’s room?”
Gabe's face tightened.
“Yes.”
Megan intervened.
“You don't need to show her.”
“I know.”
Gabe looked at Avery.
“Would you like to see it?”
Avery nodded.
The bedroom had been preserved without becoming a shrine.
Books.
Stuffed animals.
Blue walls.
Yellow rain boots on a shelf.
Megan’s stomach turned when Avery walked straight toward them.
She touched nothing.
“Those.”
Gabe swallowed.
“Yes.”
Avery looked around.
“Where’s the butterfly blanket?”
Gabe sat very still.
“What?”
“The blue one.”
Cole, standing in the doorway, whispered something Megan could not hear.
Gabe opened a cedar chest.
Inside was a folded blanket.
Blue.
Covered in butterflies.
Megan’s rational explanations became harder to stack.
Then Avery said:
“Music box.”
Gabe looked at her.
She pointed toward a small writing desk.
“Behind.”
Gabe moved slowly.
Pulled the top drawer open.
Nothing.
Removed it.
Reached into the empty cavity.
His fingers touched something.
He froze.
Then pulled out a small blue wooden box.
Nobody spoke.
Gabe opened it.
A tiny mechanical melody played.
His face collapsed.
“I thought this was gone.”
Cole turned away.
Gabe looked at Avery.
“Lily hid this?”
Avery nodded.
Then looked at Megan.
“Can I have a cookie now?”
The adults almost laughed.
That broke the tension.
Later, Megan sat with Gabe on the porch while Avery played with chalk.
“Have you ever met us?”
“No.”
“My husband?”
“Never.”
“He died two years ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Were you at Vanderbilt Children’s when Lily was sick?”
“Yes.”
“Mateo—my husband—did maintenance work there briefly.”
Gabe’s attention sharpened.
“Could he have known Lily?”
Megan had wondered too.
They checked dates.
No overlap.
Mateo had worked there after Lily died.
Another explanation gone.
Gabe stared toward Avery.
“Do you believe in ghosts?”
“No.”
“Me neither.”
“Helpful.”
He almost smiled.
Then:
“Do you think she does?”
Megan watched her daughter draw a giant yellow circle.
“I think Avery believes Lily is real.”
“That wasn't my question.”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“I don't know what I believe.”
Gabe nodded.
That was enough.
Then Cole came outside carrying a police report.
His face had changed.
“Gabe.”
“What?”
“The bike.”
Gabe looked at him.
Cole handed over the report.
“The rear brake line wasn't damaged in the crash.”
Silence.
“It was cut before you left the shop.”
Megan's skin prickled.
Gabe stared at the page.
“You sure?”
“State investigator is.”
Avery stopped drawing.
She looked toward them.
Then whispered:
“Lily said the motorcycle was sick.”
Megan stood immediately.
“No.”
Everyone looked at her.
She walked toward Avery.
“Honey, come inside.”
“But—”
“No.”
Gabe understood.
He put the report down.
“Your mom’s right.”
Avery frowned.
Gabe continued:
“This is grown-up work.”
He looked at Megan.
“And we'll prove it with grown-up evidence.”
May you like
That was the moment she began trusting him.
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