I wrapped myself in a towel, wiped the steam from the mirror, and looked at my own face.
Tired.
Pale.
Changed.
But not broken.
That was when the doorbell rang.
I froze.
From the hallway, Nora called, “Daniel, don’t open it yet.”
My pulse leapt. I dressed quickly, hands clumsy with panic, and hurried into the living room.
Daniel stood near the front window, peering through the curtain.
“It’s a courier,” he said. “Not Evan.”
Nora held Noah close, her expression fierce.
“A courier at eight at night?”
Daniel opened the door only after checking the porch camera and keeping the chain lock in place. A man in a navy rain jacket stood outside holding a padded envelope.
“Delivery for Lily Reed.”
Nora mouthed, No.
But the man added, “Signature not required. I can leave it.”
He placed the envelope on the porch and walked away.
Daniel waited until the courier’s car drove off before retrieving it.
No return address.
Only my name, printed in neat block letters.
Lily Reed.
Nora handed Noah to Daniel and picked up her phone to record while I opened the envelope at the kitchen table.
Inside was a key.
Small. Silver. Attached to a plastic tag.
Briar Lake Private Storage — Unit 14.
Beneath it was a folded note.
My hands trembled as I opened it.
The handwriting was careful, slanted slightly left.
He keeps copies of everything.
