Page 20

Lily Baker and the Promise

Lily’s braids were soaked with rain the day she ran into the hospital lobby. She nearly slipped over the floors from the water on her running shoes. She flew against the reception desk, and the lady there looked her over.

“I’m here for Katherine and Jessica Lewis,” she stated. She yanked her hands back when she realized she’d flung droplets of water onto the desk. “They were in a car accident a few hours ago.”

The receptionist made a face. “You look too young to be here by yourself. Did you come here with a parent?”

Lily tried to find a response but ended up just staring instead.

What could she say?

“Jessica Lewis is my parent.” It wasn’t true, even if Lily wished it was. Her fingers curled around the edge of the desk, and she said, “I’m old enough to be here. I’m in high school.” Her gaze flickered up to the receptionist to see if she’d believe it.

The receptionist sat back in her chair. “You can’t just come in and visit people without their consent. You need to—”

“Lily!” Grandma Lewis came from a large set of doors. She cast the receptionist a ripe scowl and took Lily’s arm. “Come with me. I’ll show you where Jessica is. We don’t have much time!”

“Much time for what?” Lily wanted to ask, but it seemed wrong to speak.

Grandma Lewis put a warm arm around Lily as they headed back through the doors. She kept it there as they ventured around a curved hallway and went into a room where the soft beeping of equipment filled the space. Lily’s chest swelled. She was sure if she cried, Grandma Lewis would be able to tell, even though her cheeks were stained with rain.

Lily halted by the door. Jessica’s eyes were closed, a breathing mask over her face. Her skin was covered in thick bruises and swollen to a point of her being nearly unrecognizable. Needles were taped to her arms with tubes that led to medical bags and machines. Only the thunderstorm outside hid Lily’s inhale at the sight. Heat filled her eyes, but she blinked back any tears that tried to form.

Grandma Lewis was watching her. Lily didn’t realize until she glanced over.

“Why don’t you stay with her a minute, and I’ll go check on Katherine?” Grandma Lewis patted Lily on the back as she said it. She turned to leave, but she paused at the door, and said, “Give Jessica my love if she wakes.”

It was almost like the old woman knew something Lily didn’t. But Lily didn’t ask as she swept to the bed. As she looked at Jessica up close.

“I heard about…” Lily couldn’t even say his name. The man who’d acted as Lily’s father for the last year. The one who’d signed her homework book and called the school when she was sick so she could stay home and get better. The one who’d made her chicken soup on her birthday because it was her favourite.

The one who was already confirmed dead.

Arthur Lewis.

Lily sniffed back what she could, but the tears couldn’t be stopped now. They rolled down her face as she sobbed, placing the back of her wrist tightly against her mouth so no one in the hall would hear.

“I’m so sorry,” Lily said. “It’s because of me—I think I’m cursed.”

She placed both hands over her face and leaned forward on the bed, her cries shaking her body. She couldn’t believe this was happening. It was too unreal.

A hand rested on her arm, and Lily lifted her head.

Jessica’s eyes were open just a slit. She reached a shaky hand up and removed the breathing device.

“Kate?” she asked. She blinked rapidly and squinted her eyes.

Kate… Lily almost couldn’t respond. Kate was somewhere else in the hospital.

Jessica reached out toward Lily, her eyes darting around in odd directions like she couldn’t quite figure out where she was. “Kate?” she asked again. There were large red patches on her eyeballs, and one of her irises was extra pale.

“It’s just me,” Lily said—an apology.

Jessica cracked a weak smile. “Lily,” she realized. Lily took her wandering hand and held tight. “Is Kate okay?”

“I think so,” Lily said. “I haven’t seen her yet. Grandma brought me here first.”

Jessica’s lips were dry, but she looked like she was trying to smile. “I don’t feel well, Lily,” she admitted.

“I know.” Lily nodded and pursed her lips as her eyes grew warm again.

“I don’t think I’ll make it to Kate today,” Jessica added. She tilted her head and pointed her wavering gaze in Lily’s direction. “But I was told she’s going to be alright.” And then, “Can I ask something of you, Lily?”

“Of course,” Lily promised.

It looked painful when Jessica tried to swallow. “It’s going to be hard for Kate when she wakes up,” she said. “I’m wondering if you can take care of her for a while. Until she’s better and can take care of herself.” Jessica cracked a smile again. “And keep an eye on Greyson—make sure he stays out of trouble. Stay by their side as long as you can in this life.”

Jessica squeezed Lily’s hand.

Lily couldn’t smile through her puffy face.

Someone loved Kate this much. Lily couldn’t remember how long it had been since someone talked about her this way. Jessica and Arthur had come pretty close a number of times. Lily cherished them for it with every piece of her heart.

But then Jessica spoke again, “Survive, Lily Baker. I know you can. Even when life gets hard, there’s no one stronger than you. You’re a good daughter. You’re a good person.”

Lily’s breath caught.

“Please, Lily…” Jessica’s lashes fluttered, her words falling away as her head rolled to the side. A few seconds went by where Lily was too stunned to speak or move. Something began happening to the machines around the room; noises sounded, and Jessica’s grip loosened in Lily’s hand. But Lily leaned in—Jessica hadn’t finished what she was saying.

“J… Jessica?” she asked.

Jessica didn’t respond this time.

Lily stared at the woman as nurses rushed in. Lily was shoved, her hand ripping from Jessica’s as the nurses surrounded the rolling bed, all shouting in medical language. They pushed Jessica out the door and rushed down the hall.

All at once the hospital room was quiet. Only Lily stood there. Rain lapped against the window. The sky flashed yellow in the distance. The echo of thunder sent vibrations through the hollow space.

It took Lily several minutes to respond. But then she said, “I’ll protect them, Jessica. I’ll never leave their sides.”

She got the news from Grandma Lewis an hour later that Jessica Lewis had died. Lily sat for hours in the hospital waiting room as it dawned on her that every family she’d found had left or sent her away, and the only parents who’d ever wanted to keep her had died.

She never told Kate about Jessica’s final words. She worried Kate would be hurt if she found out Lily had been with her mother in her last moments and Kate had missed it all.

“Survive, Lily Baker… there’s no one stronger than you. You’re a good daughter. You’re a good person.”

Little did Jessica Lewis know that those words would become the spark in Lily’s heart. That they’d be the fuel that would get Lily out of bed in the morning in the days and years that followed. That one phrase of truth by a loving mother would be the anthem she heard when she pulled on her police vest in the morning, the testimony she believed when trouble would come her way. The inspiration for the works of art on her flesh; the victory seals for every year she survived on her own after that. And she wore her paint like armour.