I could only hold her.

Little by little, the house smelled of warm soup, fresh soap, and crayons again. There were still hard nights when Tanya woke crying from a nightmare, and quiet mornings when I made three cups of coffee out of habit before remembering that Katherine wouldn’t be coming through the door.

But the laughter came back. We celebrated Tanya’s fifth birthday with yellow balloons, and before she blew out the candles she whispered something to her mother’s photograph, then ran off to play — as if she’d finally been given permission to just be a happy child.

The sentence came eleven months after the funeral. Bradley was found guilty of aggravated femicide, fraud, forgery, and fraudulent administration. Gregory was convicted of supplying the drugs, fabricating the diagnosis, and taking part in the scheme.

Heather got a lighter sentence for her cooperation — but more than enough to make sure her “victory” would rot for years behind bars.

I felt no joy when the sentences were read. Only a deep, overwhelming relief.