17

 

On Thursday afternoon, Nick opened his door and greeted Lily with a huge grin. “Come on in. Doc should be here any minute.”

Lily stepped inside Nick’s house, very similar to the one she and Maxi shared. Twenty minutes ago, Nick had called and asked her to meet him here because he’d arranged for Doc Anderson to come over. Luckily she had the afternoon off so the timing was perfect.

He dropped a quick kiss on her cheek, and she smiled at him. “Thanks for setting this up. Do you think he’ll help us?”

“We’ll find out soon enough.” He took her hand and led her down the hall into the living room where the high ceilings and wide crown moldings indicated the age of the structure.

Unlike Nick’s rental house, this home hadn’t been modernized at all. The faded wallpaper in the living room and old-fashioned furnishings likely meant Nick hadn’t changed anything since his mother passed away. Maybe the familiarity was comforting.

“It’s a bit outdated in here,” Nick said in an apologetic tone. “I haven’t had time to redecorate.”

“I like it. It’s homey.” She walked toward the fireplace. Not a trace of dust anywhere, only the faint odor of lemon furniture polish.

“Can I get you some coffee? There’s a fresh pot in the kitchen.”

“Yes, please.” It would give her something to do with her hands.

While he was gone, she wandered around the room, looking at pictures on the mantel, enjoying the cozy feel of the space. A small, framed photo of Nick as a boy caught her eye. She smiled at the familiar mischievous grin. Even at that age he was a charmer.

“Here you go. Milk and sugar, right?”

“Yes, thanks.” As she took the cup from him, the doorbell rang. She took a quick sip and set down the coffee, smoothing her skirt with damp palms.

A minute later, Doc Anderson’s wide frame filled the living room doorway.

“Hello, Lily.” His greeting held a hint of puzzlement.

“Hi, Doc. Thanks for coming.” She gave him a nervous smile. What would Doc think of her story? More importantly, would he be willing to help?

He moved into the room. “I must admit I’m curious about the nature of this meeting.” Doc raised his eyebrows in a gentle question.

“Have a seat, Percy.” Nick followed in behind him, a hand on his shoulder. “Can I get you some coffee?”

“No, thanks, son. Caffeine keeps me up at night.”

“Fine, we’ll get right to the point then.” Nick offered Doc a chair, sat beside Lily on the couch, and nodded at her to proceed.

She moistened her dry lips. “Remember I asked you about the Strickland case?”

His brow creased into a frown. “Yes, and I believe I was quite clear about the outcome. Adelaide Strickland succumbed to her injuries.”

Lily leaned forward on the sofa. “I’d like to know who informed you of her death. Was it someone from the hospital?”

Doc’s gaze darted from Lily to Nick.

“Was it the attending doctor?” she persisted, “or maybe one of the hospital officials?”

He shifted his bulk on the chair. “It was the hospital chaplain—I remember that much. Why is this so important?”

She straightened her spine. The time had come for full disclosure. She needed the truth.

“Since I’m your patient,” she said slowly, “you’re bound by patient confidentiality, correct?”

“That’s right.”

“Then what I’m about to tell you must remain between the three of us for now.”

The doctor nodded.

She took a deep breath. “I am Adelaide Strickland. Lily Adelaide Strickland, to be exact.”

His mouth dropped open. The whites around his pale eyes stood out under his wire-rimmed glasses. “But how is that possible?” he finally sputtered, looking to Nick for confirmation.

Nick nodded. “It’s possible because Lily didn’t die in that hospital. Although someone wanted you to think she had.”

Lily pulled the birth certificate from her bag and handed it to him. He scanned it and gave it back. “Well, if that don’t beat all. Why on earth would the chaplain lie about such a thing?”

“That’s what I’m trying to find out. Is there anything else you can tell me? Like why no one asked to see the body?”

Doc pulled out a white handkerchief and dabbed it to his forehead. “When the chaplain informed me of Addie’s death, I told him we’d have someone from the funeral home come for the body. The man seemed surprised—said the body had already been cremated. Apparently, there’d been some kind of mix-up because there was no next of kin. When I told Sonia Martin, she got very upset. Insisted I file a complaint with the hospital, which I intended to do. But once we received the ashes, Sonia had calmed down. Said not to bother. What was done was done. She didn’t want some poor person to lose their job over an honest mistake. We had Addie’s funeral, and that’s the last I ever thought about it.”

Lily let out a slow breath. “That explains the lack of a body. But not why someone would go to all that trouble.” She looked Doc in the eye. “Would you be willing to help me get my medical records from the Kingsville hospital? I need to see if I was pronounced dead there, and by whom.”

Nick moved closer to her on the sofa, as if to protect her. “Could you get your hands on those, Percy?”

Doc rubbed his chin. “Shouldn’t be a problem. I believe they keep records back at least twenty years.” His jaw tightened. “I’d like to clear up this mystery as much as you. Someone lied to me, and I want to know why.”

Doc’s eyes narrowed suddenly. He gave Nick a sharp look. “Does your aunt know about this?”

“No, sir. And don’t worry. Lily’s not planning on saying anything yet.”

Doc speared her with a stern look. “Sonia Martin is not a well woman and a shock like this could prove detrimental to her health.”

Guilt twisted Lily’s insides. The time was coming when she would have to tell Chloe the truth, and Nick wouldn’t be happy about that at all. No use worrying about it now. “I don’t want to endanger Mrs. Martin.”

“Good.” He put both hands on his pudgy knees and pushed stiffly to his feet. “I’ll be in touch when I have some news.”

Nick and Lily rose as well.

“Thanks, Doc.” Nick shook the older man’s hand. “We appreciate your help.”

In the hall, Doc paused to peer over his spectacles at Lily. “I am curious about one thing. What took you so long to come back, young lady?”

She shrugged. “I didn’t know my real name until I found my birth certificate a few weeks back.”

“I see.” He smiled, his eyes warm. “Well, Missy, I never thought I’d say this, but…welcome home.”

 

****

 

Lily jumped down from the ladder in the middle of the community center and stood back to survey her handiwork. The blue and yellow streamers spiraling out from the center point in the ceiling all seemed perfectly spaced. Bunches of gaily-colored balloons cooperated by remaining adhered to the walls. She blew out a satisfied breath. Step by step, the room was coming together for Chloe’s big birthday party that evening.

“Looks great,” Maxi said from behind her.

“So far so good. Can you help me put on the tablecloths?”

With the addition of royal blue coverings, white napkins, and flowered centerpieces, the hall began to look as elegant as Lily had pictured in her mind. She’d incorporated Chloe’s favorite colors and flowers into the decorating scheme. Mrs. Martin had given Maxi a group of photos from Chloe’s childhood, which they had used to create a fabulous collage mounted on an easel in the corner by the head table. Lily loved getting a glimpse into her sister’s life.

Maxi looked at her watch. “We’d better get home to change. I don’t know about you, but I could use a shower.” She blew her bangs off her face.

Lily wiped dusty hands on her pants. “Me, too. Let me grab the trash, and I think we’re done.”

She turned to pick up the tape, scissors, and leftover ribbon. Just as she stashed it all in a tote bag, the door to the party room opened, and Mrs. Martin walked in. She stood surveying the room, her hand on a wooden cane. Her gray curls had not even budged in the breeze from outside.

“Hey, Mrs. M.,” Maxi called. “We just finished. What do you think?”

“It’s beautiful. Chloe will love it.”

She hobbled forward with her cane, coming to stand near Lily, who found herself at a loss for words. The woman’s pale eyes held no warmth. Why did this frail, yet formidable, woman make her so nervous?

“Is Chloe excited?” Lily finally asked.

Mrs. Martin smiled. “Oh, yes. She’s flitting around the house like a nervous bird, fiddling with her dress and hair.” Her gaze turned solemn. “This is the first big birthday party Chloe’s ever had. I wanted to do this for her, before…before she leaves for college.”

Lily felt sympathy for the woman who might not live to see her daughter start a career or marry. Despite the oxygen pumping through Sonia’s pack, the blue tinges around her lips told Lily the severity of Sonia Martin’s illness. According to Nick, Sonia would soon be on oxygen permanently.

“I’m sure Chloe will have a great time,” Lily said.

“I hope so. Maxi dear, could you do me a favor? The birthday cake is in my car. Would you bring it in for me, please?”

A hint of panic rose in Lily’s chest as Maxi left the building.

Mrs. Martin’s shrewd blue eyes bore right into Lily’s. “You and I need to talk. Alone.”

Panic erased every coherent thought from Lily’s mind.

“On Wednesday, Chloe will be staying late after school. Could you come to the house then?”

Lily clutched the strap of her tote bag. “I’ll have to check my schedule, but I think my shift ends at three.”

Mrs. Martin nodded. “Good. That will give us enough time.”

“Can I ask what this is about?” Trepidation knocked at Lily’s ribs.

The door swung open, and Maxi breezed in carrying a large box.

“Put it in the fridge for me, will you, dear?” Mrs. Martin motioned to the door that led into the small kitchenette.

“Sure thing.” Maxi used her hip to push through the swinging door and disappeared inside.

Lily almost jumped when Sonia reached out to touch the necklace around Lily’s neck.

Sonia fingered the locket thoughtfully and then looked up. “Yes, we most definitely need to talk.”