Chapter 2 - THE LITTLE GIRL IN ROOM 407
Her name was Lily Quinn.
She was six years old.
She loved purple butterflies, strawberry milkshakes, and a stuffed rabbit named Captain Buttons.
She was also fighting leukemia.
Luca learned about her the following morning.
Nora was resting after receiving medical treatment for dehydration and exhaustion.
Dr. Bennett had recommended further evaluation.
Luca sat beside her bed.
He hadn't left all night.
“Nora,” he said gently.
“Who is Lily?”
She looked at him.
For a moment, he thought she wouldn't answer.
Then she whispered:
“My sister's daughter.”
Luca frowned.
“You have a sister?”
Nora nodded.
“Had.”
Her voice broke.
“My sister, Emma, died three years ago.”
Luca stared.
He knew Nora's parents were dead.
He knew she'd grown up in Connecticut.
He knew she liked old books and hated thunderstorms.
But he hadn't known she had a sister.
He hadn't asked.
Nora continued.
“Emma left Lily with her father.”
Luca waited.
“He wasn't a good man.”
Her hands trembled.
“When Lily got sick, he disappeared.”
Luca felt something tighten in his chest.
“And you took care of her?”
Nora nodded.
“I tried.”
She looked down.
“She's been in treatment for eight months.”
Luca stared.
Eight months.
He'd been married to Nora for eleven.
May you like
She'd spent almost their entire marriage visiting a sick child.
And he hadn't noticed.
