“And you should be on your knees thanking me for thinking of you at all after ten years.”

Lily looked at the black plastic purse, then lifted her eyes straight to Vanessa.

She let the box fall to the floorboards right at Vanessa’s feet.

“You’re not my mother at all,” Lily said.

The words came down over the room like cold iron.

Vanessa drew back an inch, her mouth falling open as her eyes flashed with fury.

“How dare you say such a thing to me,” Vanessa whispered.

Lily stood completely still beside her wooden chair, both hands clutching the top rail of the seat back.