That poor little girl deserves a mother who actually wants to stay home.

She probably came back traumatized from overseas.

Thank God her father is protecting her.

Corinne turned off her phone. For twenty-three years she had endured rumors and sleepless nights, but she had never faced a lie built out of her own daughter’s fear.

At midday she drove to Miriam’s house for her supervised visit. Casey met her at the door in red socks, holding something behind her back.

“I made you a surprise.”