Piper looked at him.

“Will you listen next time?”

“Yes,” he answered.

A promise did not settle the question.

Consistency over many visits would have to do the work words could not.

The professionals recommended gradual contact only when Piper could tolerate it, with attention to her changing needs.

I did not attend those meetings.

I read the reports with Naomi and spoke to Piper afterward in simple language, without asking her to tell me every detail.