Robert heard his wife’s ragged breathing as she processed the news. — “I’m coming home,” she finally said. “I’m canceling everything and taking the first flight out.”
— “You don’t have to—I mean, I want you here, but…”
— “Robert, our son is dying and you think I’m staying here?!” Claire’s voice rose. “I’m leaving now. I’ll be there by tonight.”
She hung up before he could respond. Robert looked at the phone, feeling even more lost. How was he going to tell Claire about the girl? About the water? She’d think he’d snapped. And maybe she’d be right.
Around 3:00 PM, there was a knock on the door. Robert looked up to see Mary, the cleaning woman, standing there. She looked nervous, twisting a cleaning rag in her hands.
— “Mr. Harrison, can I talk to you for a second?” she asked quietly.
— “Of course, come in.”
Mary walked in slowly, keeping her eyes on the floor.
— “I wanted to apologize for Lily, for what happened last night. I swear, I didn’t know she was coming here. When I realized she was gone, I nearly had a heart attack. But Linda told me she found her here and that you let her stay.”
— “Don’t apologize,” Robert said, surprising himself. “Your daughter was just trying to help.”
— “She’s obsessed with the idea of saving your son,” Mary explained, finally looking up. “Ever since she found out he was sick, she hasn’t talked about anything else. She keeps filling that bottle at the fountain and saying it’s going to make him better.”
— “About that,” Robert began. “Is that story about the fountain actually a thing?”
Mary gave a sad smile.
— “It’s an old local legend. My mother-in-law, Lily’s grandma, used to tell it all the time. She said the spring was blessed, that it helped people. But it’s just a story, you know? Something people tell themselves to have hope when there’s nothing else left. It’s the power of belief.”
— “Do you believe it?”
Mary hesitated.
— “I’d like to,” she admitted. “Especially now, with Lily being sick herself and needing…”
— “Sick?” Robert interrupted. “With what?”
Mary looked like she regretted saying anything.
— “It’s nothing like what Pete has. Just severe anemia. The doctors say she’ll be fine with the right treatment. But the treatment is expensive, and my insurance doesn’t cover all of it. So I’m saving up.”
— “How much do you need?”
— “Mr. Harrison, that’s not why I’m here,” Mary said quickly. “I came to apologize and to say I’ll talk to Lily. She won’t bother you anymore.”
— “She isn’t bothering me,” Robert said, and he realized it was true. “In fact, I’d like her to come back. If you’ll let her, of course.”
Mary looked at him in shock.
— “You want her to come back?”
— “My son was happy to see her,” Robert explained. “He hasn’t really smiled in weeks. But this morning, when he woke up, he asked for her. He knows her as Lily.”
— “She talks about him all the time,” Mary said with a small smile. “Says he’s her best friend from Mrs. Gable’s daycare.”
— “About that…” Robert cleared his throat. “I didn’t know he was going there. The nanny was doing it behind my back.”
— “Oh,” Mary looked embarrassed. “I saw them there a few times when I’d pick up Lily. He always looked so happy, playing with the other kids. I just assumed you knew.”
— “I didn’t,” Robert admitted. “And when I found out, I was furious. Но now… now I think she might have been right. My son was happy there. He had friends. He had a life I wasn’t giving him.”
Mary didn’t say anything, but her look was understanding.
— “Bring Lily back,” Robert said. “Today, if you can. I think it’s good for both of them.”
— “Are you sure?”
