I stood immediately.
“What is?”
“Something Nora made for Lily.”
When I entered the library, Lily was sitting on the sofa beside Mrs. Carter.
She had a cookie in one hand and a picture book in the other.
She looked up.
“Daddy!”
I crossed the room and sat beside her.
“Hi, sweetheart.”
She studied my face.
“Have you been crying?”
“A little.”
“Because you’re sad?”
I nodded.
“And because I’m remembering Mommy.”
Lily put down her cookie.
“I remember Mommy too.”
She leaned against my chest.
“She used to sing the princess song.”
I closed my eyes.
Nora had made up a silly song about a princess who refused to wear a crown because it gave her a headache.
Lily had insisted on hearing it every night.
I hadn’t thought about that song in years.
Grandma entered carrying a small wooden box.
It was painted pale blue, with tiny white flowers along the edges.
