Chapter 2 - THE HOUSE ON HAWTHORNE STREET
Daniel expected Grant to find the girl's family.
He didn't expect Grant to return twenty minutes later looking furious.
“We have a problem.”
Daniel was still standing near the entrance.
“What kind?”
Grant handed him a piece of paper.
“The address Lily gave Maria doesn't belong to her aunt.”
Daniel frowned.
“Whose does it belong to?”
“A man named Victor Carter.”
Daniel stared at the name.
“Her father?”
“That's what we think.”
“Where is he?”
Grant hesitated.
“Dead.”
Daniel's expression hardened.
“When?”
“Six months ago.”
“And the aunt?”
“Rachel Carter.”
“Where is she?”
“We're still looking.”
Daniel looked through the window.
The snow had intensified.
“Find her.”
“Already started.”
“And Lily?”
“We don't know where they live now.”
Daniel turned.
“Then find them.”
Grant lowered his voice.
“Daniel, this is outside the company's normal responsibilities.”
Daniel looked at him.
“A ten-year-old girl walked into my store carrying two hungry babies.”
“I know.”
“And we have a responsibility.”
Grant sighed.
“Understood.”
The next morning, Daniel received the report.
Lily Carter.
Age ten.
Twin brothers, Owen and Noah, age eleven months.
Mother deceased.
Father deceased.
Aunt Rachel Carter had legal guardianship.
No stable employment.
No health insurance.
No permanent residence.
Daniel read the report twice.
Then he saw the last line.
Current location unknown.
He picked up his phone.
“Grant.”
“Yes?”
“Find them.”
“We're working on it.”
“No.”
Daniel's voice became quiet.
“Find them.”
Three days later, Daniel's driver stopped outside an old apartment building on Hawthorne Street.
The building looked abandoned.
Daniel stepped out.
Grant followed.
“You shouldn't be here.”
Daniel ignored him.
They climbed three flights of stairs.
Apartment 3B.
Daniel knocked.
Nothing.
He knocked again.
Then came a faint sound.
A baby crying.
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“Lily?”
Silence.
“It's Daniel.”
The crying stopped.
A few seconds later, the door opened two inches.
Lily's face appeared.
She looked exhausted.
“Mr. Daniel?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes moved toward Grant.
“Who's he?”
“My friend.”
Grant almost smiled.
“Nice to meet you.”
Lily didn't respond.
Daniel looked past her.
The apartment was almost empty.
A mattress on the floor.
Two blankets.
A folding chair.
A small table.
No refrigerator.
No furniture.
And three empty formula cans lined neatly against the wall.
Daniel's stomach turned.
“Where's your aunt?”
“Sleeping.”
“Is she sick?”
“No.”
Lily lied again.
Daniel could tell.
“Can I come inside?”
She hesitated.
Then opened the door.
The twins were sleeping together on the mattress.
Daniel noticed something taped above them.
A photograph.
A young woman.
A little girl.
Two newborn babies.
“Your mother?”
Lily nodded.
“She died when they were born.”
Daniel looked at the photograph.
“How?”
“Complications.”
“And your father?”
“Car accident.”
Daniel turned.
“And your aunt?”
Lily's voice became smaller.
“She tries.”
That sentence said everything.
Daniel crouched beside the babies.
Owen opened his eyes.
Daniel smiled.
“Hey, little man.”
The baby reached toward him.
Daniel offered one finger.
Owen grabbed it.
Something inside Daniel broke.
He had spent his entire adult life building things.
Stores.
Warehouses.
Companies.
Fortunes.
He had never realized how easy it was to build a business and how difficult it was to build a safe home.
Lily watched him.
“You don't have to stay.”
Daniel looked up.
“I know.”
“Then why are you here?”
He thought for a moment.
“Because you told me you'd pay me back.”
She nodded seriously.
“I will.”
Daniel smiled.
“I believe you.”
Then a voice came from the bedroom.
“Lily?”
The girl's face changed.
“Aunt Rachel.”
Rachel Carter stumbled into the doorway.
She looked thirty-five but seemed fifty.
Dark circles surrounded her eyes.
Her hair was messy.
Her hands shook.
When she saw Daniel, she froze.
“Who are you?”
“Daniel Mercer.”
Rachel's face went white.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“How did you find us?”
“I own Mercer Market.”
Rachel looked at Lily.
“You told him?”
“She didn't.”
Daniel stood.
“I came because she couldn't afford formula.”
Rachel closed her eyes.
“I'm sorry.”
“You don't have to apologize.”
“Yes, I do.”
Her voice cracked.
“I should have been there.”
Daniel studied her.
“What happened?”
Rachel swallowed.
“I lost my job.”
“Why?”
“Because I missed too many shifts.”
“Why?”
“Because the twins were sick.”
Daniel said nothing.
Rachel looked at him.
“You're going to call social services.”
“No.”
“You should.”
“Why?”
“Because we're failing.”
Lily suddenly stepped between them.
“No.”
Rachel looked down.
“Lily—”
“No.”
The girl's voice shook.
“But we're together.”
Daniel stared at her.
She was terrified.
Not of him.
Of being separated.
Daniel made a decision.
“I won't call anyone.”
Rachel looked surprised.
“But I am going to help.”
“We can't pay you.”
“I didn't ask you to.”
Lily spoke softly.
“But I can.”
Daniel looked at her.
“You already promised.”
“I'll keep it.”
He nodded.
May you like
“Then keep it.”
He didn't know it yet, but that little agreement would change all three of their lives.
