Chapter 2

At nine the next morning, I took Emma to Mara's house.

Ryan had tried to stop us. He said one blanket wasn't worth making a scene over. He said Mara was exhausted enough already. He said Lily had barely slept last night.

I only said one thing.

"Emma didn't sleep either."

When Mara opened the door, she wore just the right amount of surprise.

"Danielle? What are you doing here?"

I held Emma's hand.

"I'm here to get my daughter's things."

Cartoons were playing in the living room. Lily sat on the rug with the storm blanket draped over her. The second she saw Emma, she pulled it tighter around herself.

Emma stood in the doorway, staring at the blanket.

A few seconds later, the color slowly drained from her face.

I followed her gaze, and my own breath caught.

The piece of fabric embroidered with Emma Hale, Dad's Brave Girl had been cut off.

I looked at Mara.

"What happened?"

Mara immediately put on a troubled expression.

"I didn't think it would turn into this. Lily saw Emma's name on it and got upset. She kept crying. Ryan said it was fine, that we could just cut it off."

Emma's hand went stiff in mine.

She looked up at me, her voice tiny.

"Mom, why did Dad let her cut off the part he made for me?"

My throat closed.

Lily hugged the blanket and wrinkled her nose. "Ryan gave it to me. You can't take it."

Emma took one step forward, reaching as if she only wanted to touch the missing corner.

Lily smacked her hand away at once.

"Don't touch it. It's mine now."

I pulled Emma behind me and stared at Mara.

"Make your daughter apologize."

The smile on Mara's face faded.

"Children fight over things all the time. Don't scare Lily."

"She hit my daughter."

"Emma was trying to snatch the blanket."

I stepped forward.

"That blanket has always belonged to Emma."

Mara looked down at Lily and spoke in a gentle voice. "Sweetheart, why don't we give the blanket back to Emma, okay?"

Lily screamed immediately.

She threw herself over the blanket, pressing it under her body, crying until her whole face turned red.

Mara gathered her into her arms as if she'd been waiting for that exact moment.

"See? She really can't handle it. Ryan said last night that Lily could use it for a few days first."

Footsteps sounded outside.

Ryan pushed the door open. The moment he saw the living room, his brows drew together.

"Danielle, what are you trying to do?"

I pointed at the blanket with the corner cut away.

"You agreed to let them cut Emma's name off?"

Ryan's eyes landed on the blanket for only a second.

"Lily was unstable. It was just a name."

Emma suddenly looked up at him.

"Dad, you said you made it so I wouldn't be scared."

Something uncomfortable flickered across Ryan's face.

"Emma, Lily was scared last night too."

Emma nodded, as if she had finally understood.

She didn't look at the blanket again.

Beside Lily's toy basket, I saw the piece of fabric they'd cut off. It had been stuffed under a plastic doll bed, crumpled into a ball.

I walked over, picked it up, and gently brushed off the dust.

Emma reached out and held the piece of fabric in both hands.

On the drive home, she didn't say a word.

That night, I called the lawyer and made an appointment for the next day.

After I hung up, I went to check on Emma.

She wasn't asleep.

The piece of fabric with her name on it lay flat beside her pillow.

She looked at me.

"Mom, if I keep my name safe, will Dad remember it's mine?"

Before I could answer, my phone buzzed.

Ryan had sent a message.

Tomorrow is the company family lunch. Bring Emma. And make sure she apologizes to Lily.