My four-year-old daughter warned me in sign language not to drink—then a terrified woman rushed from the kitchen
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Chapter 21 / 27
Chapter 21 - My custody fear
Vanessa had no legal parental rights over Lily.
She had never adopted her.
We were not married.
That simplified one fear.
But emotionally, Lily had known Vanessa for nearly half her life.
After Vanessa disappeared, Lily asked:
“Is Vanessa dead?”
“No.”
“Jail?”
“Not now.”
“Bad?”
I resisted the easiest answer.
“She did something unsafe.”
“Poison?”
“She put medicine in my drink without telling me.”
“Poison.”
“In your word, yes.”
Lily nodded.
Then:
“Did she love me?”
I looked at her.
“I think she cared about you.”
“Then why lie?”
There is no answer children like.
“Caring about somebody does not make every choice safe.”
She signed:
May you like
“Stupid.”
Fair.
