Chapter 2 – THE PROMISE I NEVER MADE

“I never agreed to that.”

The words came out before I could stop them.

Lily startled.

I immediately lowered my voice.

“Baby, look at me.”

She slowly raised her eyes.

“Mommy never agreed to live away from you.”

Her chin trembled.

“But the lady said you did.”

“I know what she said.”

I took her little face between my hands.

“And I’m telling you she was wrong.”

Lily looked toward Vanessa.

Then back at me.

“Really?”

“Really.”

She leaned against my chest.

I kissed her hair.

For a moment, I couldn’t say anything else.

Because I realized my daughter had been carrying that fear for hours.

She’d eaten mashed potatoes.

She’d smiled at Luca.

She’d even laughed when Teresa offered her another dinner roll.

But underneath everything, she’d believed her mother was preparing to leave her.

Luca turned toward Vanessa.

“Where exactly were you planning to send Lily?”

Vanessa looked offended.

“I wasn’t planning to send her anywhere.”

“Then why did you tell her Emily had agreed to it?”

“I told her that children sometimes stay with relatives when their parents work overnight.”

My stomach tightened.

“Lily doesn’t have relatives who can take her.”

Vanessa looked at me.

“Surely you have someone.”

I shook my head.

“My mother died five years ago. My father isn’t able to help. Lily’s father hasn’t been involved since she was two.”

Vanessa looked uncomfortable.

“You must have friends.”

“I have a neighbor who helps when she can. That’s not the same as someone raising my daughter five nights a week.”

Luca’s expression hardened.

“Vanessa, did you make any arrangements for this child?”

She looked away.

“No. I assumed Emily would handle that.”

I felt as though I’d been slapped.

“You assumed?”

She folded her arms.

“You’re her mother.”

“Yes,” I whispered. “I am.”

My voice shook.

“And that’s why I can’t believe you thought I’d simply send her somewhere else.”

Vanessa looked toward the guests.

“This conversation is becoming absurd.”

Luca didn’t move.

“You’re the one who told an eight-year-old that her mother had agreed to leave her.”

“I was trying to prepare her for a change.”

“A change her mother knew nothing about?”

Vanessa’s expression tightened.

She had no answer.

Mrs. Carter approached with a warm drink for Lily.

I helped my daughter hold the cup.

Her hands were steadier now.

She took a small sip.

Then whispered, “It’s good.”

Mrs. Carter smiled sadly.

“I’m glad, sweetheart.”

Luca waited until Lily was settled.

Then he turned back toward Mrs. Carter.

“I want to see the staffing arrangements Vanessa prepared.”

Mrs. Carter hesitated.

“They’re in the household service book.”

“Bring it here.”

Vanessa immediately spoke.

“Luca, those plans aren’t final.”

“Then there shouldn’t be a problem looking at them.”

Mrs. Carter returned with a thick leather-bound book.

She opened it on the sideboard.

I recognized the pages.

Every week, our shifts were written in careful blue ink.

Mrs. Carter had always kept the book herself.

But lately, Vanessa had been making changes.

Luca turned to the page for the week after the wedding.

Several names were written under the heading EVENING SERVICE.

My name was among them.

Beside it were three words.

I felt sick.

“Mrs. Carter, what does that mean?”

She looked troubled.

“That employees assigned to those positions would stay on the property.”

I stared at the page.

“But nobody asked me.”

Mrs. Carter lowered her eyes.

“I thought Miss Bellini had spoken to you.”

Vanessa stepped forward.

“I told you it was a proposal.”

Luca looked at the book.

“A proposal usually comes before someone is assigned.”

She exhaled.

“Luca, we were trying to improve efficiency.”

He turned the page.

Then stopped.

“Where are the rooms?”

Mrs. Carter looked confused.

“What rooms, sir?”

“For the employees who were supposed to live here.”

Vanessa answered quickly.

“There are staff bedrooms in the east wing.”

Luca frowned.

“Those rooms are already occupied.”

“I thought we could rearrange them.”

He looked toward Mrs. Carter.

“Was anyone asked to move?”

She shook her head.

“No, sir.”

Luca turned back toward Vanessa.

“So Emily was supposed to stay here overnight, but there wasn’t even a room available?”

Vanessa’s face reddened.

“The details could have been worked out.”

I stared at her.

I thought about Lily’s little bed.

The faded quilt I’d bought secondhand.

The row of stuffed animals she arranged every morning.

The yellow curtains we’d picked together because they made our apartment feel cheerful.

Vanessa had been talking about taking us away from that life as though she were rearranging furniture.

Luca closed the service book.

“Emily’s six o’clock departure remains in place.”

Vanessa opened her mouth.

He continued.

“And nobody is moving into this house because a schedule says they’re required to.”

I felt relief move through me.

But Mrs. Carter was still staring at the book.

Her expression had changed.

“Mr. Moretti?”

He looked up.

“Yes?”

“There’s something wrong.”

She turned several pages backward.

Then looked toward me.

“Emily, you were here this morning when I checked your schedule.”

I nodded.

“Yes.”

“What time were you supposed to leave?”

“Six.”

Mrs. Carter nodded slowly.

“That’s what I remember.”

Vanessa stepped closer.

“What are you suggesting?”

Mrs. Carter ignored her.

She reached into the pocket of her apron and removed a small folded sheet.

It was the temporary schedule Luca had approved three weeks earlier.

His initials were beside my name.

Mrs. Carter placed it beside the leather book.

Then she opened the page Vanessa had changed that afternoon.

My name was listed for evening service.

Beside it was a new finishing time.

11:30 P.M.

I stared at the numbers.

Luca looked toward Vanessa.

“Who changed this?”

She hesitated.

“I did.”

“Without asking Emily?”

“Yes.”

“Without asking me?”

Vanessa folded her arms.

“We had already discussed needing more staff.”

Luca looked down.

Then he noticed the small notation beside the altered shift.

His expression changed.

He turned toward Mrs. Carter.

“What’s this?”

She leaned closer.

Her face went pale.

I couldn’t see the writing from where I sat.

Then Luca slowly turned the book toward me.

Beside my name were two words in Vanessa’s handwriting.

NO OVERTIME.

Luca’s voice became dangerously quiet.

“You expected Emily to work five and a half extra hours without being paid?”