Chapter 20 - LILY TURNS SEVEN
The seventh-year review happened quietly.
No gala.
No family spectacle.
A child specialist met Lily.
Questions appropriate for seven.
Who helps you?
Who scares you?
What happens when adults disagree?
Do adults ask you to keep secrets that make you uncomfortable?
Lily said:
“Grandma did.”
The specialist documented.
No corporate vote changed because Lily said one sentence.
The conflict had already been investigated.
That mattered.
The review recommended:
No Marlene contact.
Continued independent trust administration.
Financial education for Ethan.
Child-focused therapy for Lily.
No discussion of trust values with Lily beyond age-appropriate concepts.
I agreed.
Lily received her birthday letter from Claire.
It said:
Seven is a good age because you can read menus and still order pancakes for dinner.
Lily laughed.
Then cried.
May you like
Then asked for pancakes.
We had them.
