Chapter 2 - Nora’s Purple RabbitThe purple rabbit had been Nora’s final gift to Millie.
During Nora’s last weeks in the hospital, she had worried that her daughter would forget the sound of her voice. She ordered a recordable toy and filled it with short messages.
One message said, “Good morning, my brave girl.”
Another said, “Your father burns pancakes, but eat them anyway because he tries very hard.”
The final message was different.
“When you are scared, press the heart and tell Bunny what happened. Sometimes saying the truth aloud helps us find our courage.”
After Nora died, Daniel replaced the toy’s batteries and showed Millie how to record new messages without deleting her mother’s voice.
Millie carried Bunny everywhere.
Claire complained about it constantly.
“That filthy thing shouldn’t be at the dinner table.”
“It isn’t filthy,” Millie would whisper.
“It looks ridiculous in photographs.”
Millie would hold it tighter.
On the afternoon of Oliver’s birthday, Bunny was clipped to the ribbon around Millie’s waist.
She crept upstairs after Claire, staying close to the wall as Nora had once taught her during a game of hide-and-seek.
Daniel’s office door was open.
Millie stopped outside.
Claire stood beside his desk, removing papers from the red folder. Evelyn was with her.
Millie could not understand most of their conversation, but she recognized her mother’s name.
“Nora kept copies,” Evelyn said. “She always kept copies.”
“We searched the lake house,” Claire replied. “There was nothing.”
“What about her lawyer?”
“Daniel hasn’t spoken to Rebecca Sloan since the funeral.”
“He might if he sees these documents.”
“He won’t see them.”
Claire opened the lower drawer of Daniel’s desk and placed several pages inside.
Then she removed a different set of documents from her handbag.
Millie leaned forward, trying to see.
A floorboard creaked beneath her foot.
Claire turned toward the doorway.
Millie ran.
She reached the staircase before Claire caught her arm.
“What were you doing?”
Millie stared at the carpet.
“Nothing.”
“Were you listening?”
“No.”
Claire’s fingers tightened around her wrist.
“Do not lie to me.”
Millie’s free hand found Bunny’s plastic heart.
She pressed it.
The red light began blinking beneath the rabbit’s fur.
“I saw you put papers in Daddy’s desk,” Millie whispered.
Claire released her wrist and looked toward the stairs.
“Your father asked me to put them there.”
“No, he didn’t.”
Claire crouched until her face was level with Millie’s.
“You have been causing problems since the day you were born.”
Millie’s eyes filled with tears.
“That’s not true.”
“It is. Your mother filled your head with stories, and now your father has to spend his whole life cleaning up the mess she left behind.”
Evelyn appeared behind Claire.
“That’s enough.”
But she spoke too softly.
Claire looked at her mother.
“She needs to learn.”
From downstairs came the sound of children cheering as someone started a party game.
Claire pointed toward the playroom.
“Go join the others.”
Millie ran downstairs with Bunny still recording.
She did not know that the toy had captured every word.
She only knew she wanted her father.
But when she entered the playroom, Oliver blocked her path.
“My mom says you’re not supposed to be here,” he said.
Millie tried to walk around him.
Oliver grabbed Bunny by one ear.
“Give me that.”
“No!”
Millie pulled it back.
The plastic clip broke, and the rabbit fell onto the floor.
Oliver stepped on it.
May you like
The red recording light disappeared beneath his shoe.
