Lily asked whether Grandma knew.
Mrs. Parker told her not to worry.
Then strangers began arriving.
At first, Lily thought they were there for her surprise birthday party.
“But nobody knew my name,” she said.
“Sweetheart, I didn’t invite those people,” I said.
“I know now.”
Then Lily explained how Mrs. Parker had told her to stop asking questions.
When Lily said the pool belonged to her grandmother, Mrs. Parker became angry.
She took Lily through the house, opened the front door, and told her to stay outside.
“She said the customers would complain if I bothered them.”
Lily looked confused.
“But I thought this was our home, too.”
I reached across the table and took her hand.
“It is, sweetheart. You’re always welcome here.”
Lily began crying. “But she said I was making everybody uncomfortable.”
Emily pulled her into a hug. “Oh, baby.”
I turned away because I was crying too.
