Then Ethan got involved.
“He asked if there was anything here that belonged to Lily’s mother,” Ms. Bennett explained. “When we found the machine, Lily asked whether I could teach her to sew.”
I looked at Lily.
“Why didn’t you ask your dad to help you find it?”
She pressed her lips together.
“Because he always says we can do things later.”
Jacob flinched.
“That’s not fair.”
“I know you’re trying to protect me, Dad. I know.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“But sometimes I feel like my whole life is about being sick. Everybody asks if I’ve taken my medicine, whether I’m tired, whether I’m eating enough. Everybody tells me to rest.”
She looked at the blue vest lying on the table.
“Nobody asks me what I want to make.”
The room became silent.
Then she picked up the vest.
It had three mismatched buttons, uneven stitching, and a pocket that sat noticeably higher on one side.
