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“It turned out Charly was a gifted photographer, and she was able to find work with a local publication, but it wasn’t easy hauling a baby around to locations, much less a toddler, so I became Lily’s nanny in exchange for room and board and a small allowance.
“I have a habit of making bad choices when it comes to men.” She smiled wryly as she focused on a random spot off to our side. “My parents were really strict, and no matter how hard I tried, I could never seem to measure up to their perfect standards. After awhile, I quit trying and basically went the other direction. It was a lot easier to become the opposite of what they wanted. At least that got their attention. When I got pregnant, they threw me out of the house. Eventually, I made it to the home where I met Charly. Later, after we moved into a cheap apartment together, and any time I started back into my old habits, she was quick to pull me aside and remind me I was better than that. She said she also used to use her family as an excuse for her behavior, but something ‘big’ had happened and it scared her straight. She said someone sacrificed themselves for her, and she owed it to her to get her life straightened out until the time came that she could repay the debt. I didn’t know about you for several years. She bottled that story up tight. But as she grew to trust me, bits and pieces came out.”
She finally looked back at me. “She spoke so lovingly of you. Charly always said I was like a sister to her, and in most ways, we were. But there was always a soft look, a special voice when she spoke your name. I’m ashamed to admit it sparked a jealousy in me. I wanted to be that special to someone.”
I grudgingly felt sorry for her. I knew exactly how that felt.
“Why didn’t she contact me in all that time?”
“Basically, she thought she wasn’t worthy of you. And when she did write to you, you never responded.” I heard the judgment in her tone. “But despite that, she held on to the hope that someday she’d be able to tell you all this herself. And she made me promise that if anything ever happened to her, I’d find you and tell you myself.”
“I never got her letters,” I mumbled. “I wonder what happened to them.”
Misty shrugged. “About the time Lily was three, my Uncle Vic found me. I’d always been close to him and Aunt Francine until I ran away. They were nothing like my family. He’d been worried sick when I disappeared, and he finally tracked me down. He invited all three of us to come live with him. Charly was crazy about the idea from the very beginning since Richmond was not terribly far from where you were, and it gave us a nicer place than the tiny apartment we shared.
“It wasn’t unusual for my uncle’s partners to get together for dinners at least once a month, and Uncle Vic invited us along a few times. Charly sat next to Emma McCloskey one time, and that’s when Charly made the connection she had been one of your favorite teachers. Charly went on about how she used to live in the same county and ‘wasn’t it a shame what happened to that poor girl Madelyn Stone.’ That’s how Emma came to send her husband to help you. It was fascinating, like watching a conductor in front of an orchestra bring all the instruments together.”
Misty smiled softly at me. “It was Charly who put the idea of creating a work release program at the law firm in my uncle’s mind. She went on and on about how it would look good for the firm as well as helping the community and the individuals. It wasn’t a hard sale. My uncle is really kind of a softy at heart. She made sure to bring it up in front of the McCloskeys, and they quickly fell on board, also. They think it was their idea to offer you the position, but it was really because Charly planted the seed. She even managed to convince me to ask Uncle Vic for a job so I could be her eyes to make sure you were doing okay.”
“Unbelievable,” I mumbled. I’d never known Charly could be so crafty.
“I didn’t want the job, but decided I could learn more about the woman who did such a terrible thing, but was loved by her sister even more for it. Then I met Holten Andrews. He was the first decent man I’d been interested in for a long time. But once again, someone wanted you over me. When I saw him take you out to lunch, I was furious. You know the rest. I’m so sorry for embarrassing you in such an awful way in front of everyone. It was a shitty thing to do. If it helps any, my uncle pulled me aside and ripped me a new asshole and fired me. He said he wouldn’t tolerate that behavior from anyone, even me.” Misty sighed. “And he was right to feel that way. I told him I’d pack my bags and leave. But unlike my parents, he hugged me, told me he loved me, and that we all make mistakes, but the important thing was to learn from them. And I will, I promise I will. I want to honor Charly, and be more like the sister I should have been, like you were.”
She finally grew silent. I could hardly see her through my blur of tears knowing Charly had been looking out for me all that time.
“I don’t know what to say, Misty. It sounds like something out of a movie. And now there’s Lily to consider. I never knew she’d had a baby, so when she first mentioned Lilian, I thought she was talking about our mom.”
“She wanted to honor your mom,” Misty confirmed. “Charly was a good mother, Maddy. She knew what it was like to grow up without one and without a good dad. And now, ironically, despite her efforts, Lily is going to go through the same thing at the same age. I love that little girl, Maddy. She’s a bright ,sunny spot on a cloudy day. But I know it would be Charly’s wish for you to raise her. She left me a letter to give to you in case anything ever happened to her. I…I don’t have it here, but maybe you can come over to my Uncle Vic’s house. Then you can meet Lily at the same time. Uncle Vic didn’t know about you and Charly, I swear he didn’t. But I told him everything on the way to the hospital and while you were in with Holt.”
“Misty, I uh, I don’t know how to ask this, but do you know who Lily’s father is?”
She shook her head. “Charly never said. I don’t mean to say anything bad, but I’m not sure she knew either. Lily’s birth certificate doesn’t list a father.”
“Do you know what money those men were talking about?”
“I don’t, but sometimes when we were running low on money, Charly would mysteriously come up with it. She always seemed to have some secret that she didn’t even tell me. She kept a low profile, and I think that’s why she never took a permanent job and stayed freelance. It was easier to set the payment terms and keep a low profile. She used a different last name, too, O’Connell.”
I recognized it - our mother’s maiden name. We both sat quietly for several minutes, each in our thoughts. My mind was spinning with all the information Misty had fed me. I had a niece unknown to me until a couple hours ago, whose mother wanted me to raise her. How the hell was I supposed to do that? I didn’t know how to be a mother. I’d never even had one. For now, I just needed to get back to the man who grounded me.
“I need to get back to Holt. I have a lot to think about. I’ll be in touch.” I took two steps before hesitating. It had taken a certain level of courage and uncharacteristic humility for M
isty to share the more personal elements she had. I turned around and saw her still sitting slump-shouldered in her chair.
“Misty?” I called.
She looked up as if startled to still see me there. “Yeah?”
“Thank you. For being there for Charly and Lily all these years. And, well thank you for your honesty in telling me everything.”
She smiled shyly. “It’s the least I could do. Please call, Maddy. I promise I won’t make any more trouble.” She gathered up her purse and sucked in a deep breath. “I have to go home and help tell a little girl her mother won’t be coming home.”
I took a step forward, tears rolling down my cheeks. “I’m sorry, Misty. Please, tell Lily her Aunt Maddy will be there tomorrow, that I can’t wait to meet her.”
Misty’s smile trembled. “I will.”
I took another step toward the woman I’d always seen as my nemesis, now brought together by a tragedy that impacted both of us. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but somehow we were going to have to get along. There was an innocent little girl who was going to need her, and hopefully me, to get through this. I held my hand out. To my relief, Misty grasped it back. It was a start.
40
