I wanted her to know she could love her father or feel angry with him without choosing a side to protect me.

One day she returned holding a small red kite.

Wyatt had brought it for her, but she placed it in the closet and asked whether we could go to the library.

I said yes.

A week later, she asked to fly it.

Healing did not follow a straight line.

Neither did trust.

Gabriel continued to be the uncle who came to birthday parties, helped with school projects, and listened when Piper insisted on explaining every detail of a cartoon.