as it actually was, smiling and talking. It was as if his dad was just a picture, unmoving and
static.
Tears welled up in Nicholas’ eyes. Lily reached out and poked his cheek with her fist. He
pulled her close to him and held her tightly before she started to fuss.
There was a knock of the door. “Nicky?” his mom said. “Why is this door locked? Can
you come out here for a sec?”
Nicholas hugged Lily even closer and breathed in her baby smell.
His mom banged on the door again. “Nick? If you won’t come out here to talk, can you
at least set Lily free?”
Nicholas took a deep breath. “Is he dead?” he yelled. Lily’s face scrunched up at the loud
sound, and she started wailing. His mom pounded on the door, but Nicholas couldn’t hear if
she was saying anything. He patted Lily’s back, and she stopped crying. Soon the pounding
stopped, too.
He climbed out of the bathtub and opened the door. His mom was sitting against the
wall across from the bathroom with her head in her hands.
“Is it true, Mom?” he said.
She looked up at him and reached for Lily. “Yes,” she said.
Nicholas leaned down and gave her the baby.
“We’ll be okay, Nicky,” she said. She was crying, too.
Nicholas looked down at her for another moment and then went to his bedroom and
stared at the ceiling until it got dark. He was glad his mom had left him alone. Before he fell
asleep that night, he tried to remember that day at the beach in more detail. A seagull had
carried off their chips. His dad had thrown him in the air and caught him on the way down. His
mom, pregnant with Lily, had joined them as the sun set. A few days later, his dad was stuffed
in his army fatigues and had left for good.