<P> Lily attempts to tell August the truth but is interrupted by Zach, who takes her for a honey run . They stop at a store to pick up a few things . Zach gets arrested after one of his friends, who they had met at the store, throws a coke bottle at a white man and none of them will tell who did it . Zach and his friends are arrested and put in jail . The Boatwright house decides not to tell May in fear of an unbearable emotional episode . The secret does not stay hidden for long and May becomes catatonic with depression . May leaves the house and August, June, Lily and Rosaleen find her lying dead in the river with a rock on her chest, an apparent suicide . </P> <P> A vigil is held that lasts four days . In that time, Zach is freed from jail with no charges, and black cloth is draped over the beehives to symbolize the mourning . May's suicide letter is found and in it she says, "It's my time to die, and it's your time to live . Don't mess it up ." August interprets this as urging June to marry Neil . May is later buried . Life begins to turn back to normal after a time of grieving, bringing the Boatwright house back together . June, after several rejections, agrees to give her hand in marriage to Neil . Zach vows to Lily that they will be together someday and that they will both achieve their goals . </P> <P> Lily finally finds out the truth about her mother . August was her mother's nanny, and helped raise her . After her marriage to T. Ray began to sour, Deborah left and went to stay with the Boatwrights . She eventually decided to leave him permanently and returned to their house to collect Lily . While Deborah was packing to leave, T. Ray returned home . Their ensuing argument turned into a physical fight during which Deborah got a gun . After a brief struggle, the gun fell to the floor, which Lily picked up and the gun accidentally discharged, killing Deborah . </P> <P> While Lily is coming to terms with this information, T. Ray shows up at the pink house to take her back home . Lily refuses, and T. Ray flies into an enraged rampage . He has a violent flashback which brings him around . August steps in and offers to let Lily stay with her . T. Ray gives in and agrees . However, right before T. Ray leaves the Boatwright house, Lily asks him what really happened the day her mother died . T. Ray confirms that she did do it . </P>

Who killed lily mother in the secret life of bees