Chapter 2

I quickly asked Wendy to help me order a cute little cake. Even though she had no idea what I was up to, she kindly helped me out anyway.

I picked out an adorable Stella Lou cake, bought two boxes of painkillers for my daughter, and tossed in some stuffed candy I'd been saving forever, so precious I never wanted to eat them myself.

I packed everything into a cute pink bag and asked the delivery guy to bring it to my daughter's school.

I texted: [Sweetie, Mommy prepared lots of gifts for you. Remember to have a candy after the medicine so it won't taste so bitter. Happy birthday.]

After the delivery was done, I asked the delivery guy, "Mister, is my daughter okay?"

The delivery guy sighed quietly.

He said, "That little girl was covered in bruises, like she'd been abused. Her clothes were full of patches, and her face was so pale. She looked really pitiful."

As I listened, my heart ached for her.

After all, what mom wouldn't worry about her own daughter?

Then, she sent me a picture of herself eating the cake.

She messaged: [Thank you. It's the first birthday since Mom died that I got to have cake. The cake tastes amazing, and the candy is super sweet.]

I replied: [It's okay, sweetie. Mommy will always get you cake for your birthday every single year.]

She replied: [Thank you, Mommy.]

With a big grin, I grabbed my phone and Googled how to be a good mom to a daughter.

The secret? Raise her like a princess and give her the best of everything in the world.

My eyes lit up as I nodded, and I slowly looked over at my pink piggy bank.

As Mom walked into my room with a strawberry milkshake, I was busy smashing my pink piggy bank with a tiny hammer.

Coins spilled all over the carpet like popping candy, and I stuck my little butt up in the air, picking them up one by one.

I muttered to myself, "This is for my daughter's candy. This is for a pretty dress. This is for the newest toy. And this is for her dad, so he can go deal with her stepmom."

Mom leaned against the wall, smiling as she watched me babble away to myself.

"Lily, why are you breaking your favorite piggy bank? Is there a new toy you want?" she asked.

I hugged Mom with a big grin and blurted out, "Mommy, I have a daughter now, so I gotta take care of her!"

Mom was stunned. "How come you have a daughter?"

I pulled out my phone, pointed at the messages, and said, "I found her all by myself! She's a poor little girl with no mom, and her stepmom is really mean to her.

"I saw online that having a daughter is really expensive, so I gotta start saving up and try my best!"

Mom was a bit speechless, but she patiently tried to explain, "Sweetie, there are lots of bad people out there. Not everyone cares about you like Mommy and Daddy do. Maybe the person texting you is actually a scammer!"

But I just couldn't believe it. "No way. If she was a scammer, she'd be asking me for tons of presents. But all she asked for was a painkiller.

"Her mom is gone, and if I, her new mom, don't help her out, her stepmom will torture her!"

Mom sighed. "Don't worry, sweetie. The police officers will help her."

I shook my head. "The police can't help everyone, but I'm her mom. I'll make sure she's safe."

Just then, Dad walked in, and when he heard what I said, his briefcase dropped to the floor with a thud.

He said, "Wait, what? You're a mom now?

"But honey, you're still so little. You can't even tie your own shoes yet..."

I tilted my head and argued, "You don't have to know how to tie your shoes to be a mom! Being a mom just means wiping your baby's tears, handing out candy, and..."

I stood on my tiptoes and gave Mom and Dad a kiss on the cheek. "And saying 'I love you' a hundred times every day!

"I believe I can be a good mom!"