Chapter 3 — Seventeen Calls

By 10:12 p.m., Daniel had received seventeen calls. Nine came from Patricia. Six were from Scott. Two came from Scott’s wife, Melissa, who had not contacted Lily in almost a year.

Daniel silenced his phone and placed it face down on the windowsill.

Lily had fallen asleep again. Her breathing stayed shallow but steady, and the monitor beside her bed kept its quiet, regular rhythm. Daniel sat holding her hand as reporters gathered outside the hospital entrance.

At 10:26, a nurse entered. “Mr. Brennan, your mother and brother are downstairs,” she said. “Security stopped them because you requested no visitors.”

Daniel looked toward the doorway. “Keep them downstairs.”

The nurse hesitated. “Your mother is telling people she raised Lily.”