Chapter 6
Rachel was released on bail two days later.
The protective order kept her away from us.
But she sent messages through unknown numbers.
That child is destroying us.
You’ll regret choosing her.
She lies like Laura did.
I gave every message to Nora.
Sophie slept in my bed for a week.
Every night, she woke crying.
“Daddy?”
“I’m here.”
“You go work?”
“No.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
I canceled every trip.
Moved meetings online.
Let my company run without me for the first time in years.
Money could wait.
My daughter could not.
We removed the closet door.
Sophie watched from the hallway while I unscrewed the hinges.
“Door gone?” she asked.
“Gone.”
“No dark?”
“No dark.”
She touched the empty doorway carefully.
Then she placed her stuffed bunny inside and took it back out.
Testing.
Learning.
Trusting slowly.
Maren recommended trauma therapy.
Dr. Lane became Sophie’s therapist.
In the first session, Sophie drew a house with one black square.
“What is that?” Dr. Lane asked.
“Bad room.”
“And where is Daddy?”
Sophie drew a stick figure outside the house.
“At work.”
I cried in the car afterward.
Megan sat beside me.
“Good,” she said.
“What?”
May you like
“Cry. Then fix it.”
So I did.
