Chapter 5 - The Woman at the Door

I drove to Dana's instead of going home. That decision kept me from making the worst mistake of my life.

Lucy ate half a grilled cheese and watched ducks cross the pond beyond Dana's window. She had been quiet all morning.

"Did Grandma make Daddy stop liking us?" she asked.

I knelt beside her. "Daddy loves you. Grown-ups can love somebody and still make terrible choices."

"He never says stop."

I didn't have an answer that would make him look better.

At two, a social worker named Avery Cole arrived after calling to arrange a visit. She spoke with me in the living room and with Lucy separately, in an age-appropriate way, while I waited nearby. I didn't coach Lucy. I had already learned how badly adults wanted to put words in her mouth.

Avery examined the medical summary, asked about meals and school attendance, and noted that Lucy appeared clean, healthy, and comfortable with me. She made no promises about the investigation.

"Children sometimes blame themselves when adults fight," she said softly. "Please keep reassuring her."

After she left, I found eighteen missed calls from Celia.

One message was short: YOU WILL REGRET EMBARRASSING ME.

Another arrived as a voicemail. Her voice was syrupy.

"Mara, sweetheart, you can make this all stop. Admit you frightened Lucy, apologize to your family, and bring her home Sunday."

I played it for Lila and saved it.

By evening, Tessa had stopped answering me. Ben texted that his mother was considering an emergency guardianship filing, as if I should be grateful he'd warned me.

Then Dana's front camera chimed.

A woman in navy scrubs stood on the porch holding a small paper bag. She introduced herself through the intercom as Celia's private caregiver.

"I'm here to drop off Lucy's things," she said.

I kept the door locked and asked her to leave the bag outside.

After she drove away, I found Button's missing yellow bow and three of Lucy's hair clips. Underneath them was an envelope addressed in Celia's stiff handwriting.

Inside lay a photocopied school form authorizing Celia Ellis to pick up Lucy whenever she wished.

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The parent signature at the bottom was Ben's.

And the date was tomorrow.