Chapter 3 - What He Came Home To
Daniel Oleso arrived before the ambulance.
His tie hung loose.
He left the front door open and crossed the hall without taking off his coat.
“Lucy?”
Vanessa reached him first.
“Thank God. She's been acting out, and this woman—”
He walked past her.
Lucy pushed herself upright in the chair.
Her face brightened for one painful second.
Then she saw Vanessa behind him and looked down.
“I'm sorry, Daddy.”
Daniel stopped.
“For what?”
“Making you come home.”
He dropped to his knees.
Up close, he could see the loose waistband, the cracked lips, the shadows beneath her eyes.
He had been away eighteen days.
He had spoken to his daughter four times, always on Vanessa's phone.
Every call had ended with the same answer.
I'm fine, Daddy.
“Honey, look at me.”
She tried.
Her gaze slid past his shoulder.
Elena noticed.
So did he.
“Vanessa. Step outside.”
“Daniel, don't be ridiculous.”
He stood.
“Now.”
She folded her arms and stayed where she was.
Then the paramedics entered, and the kitchen filled with questions she couldn't control.
One knelt beside Lucy.
The other asked who had called.
“I did,” Elena said.
Vanessa started explaining the behavioral issues again.
Daniel held out his hand toward Elena.
“You said there was a bowl.”
Elena showed him the recording.
Eleven seconds.
Cold rice.
A tiny hand.
“Those too.”
He played it once.
He didn't need to play it again.
“That is completely out of context,” Vanessa said.
Daniel's face went so still that Elena took a step closer to Lucy.
“What context makes that acceptable?”
Vanessa opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
The paramedic said Lucy needed to be evaluated at the hospital.
Daniel agreed immediately.
When they helped her onto the stretcher, Lucy reached for Elena instead of her father.
Daniel saw it.
The hurt flashed across his face, but he moved aside.
“Go with her,” he told Elena.
At the doorway, Vanessa caught his sleeve.
“You're throwing away our future because of a child who lies for attention.”
He pulled free.
“Don't follow us.”
Lucy lifted her head as Elena climbed into the ambulance.
“Please don't let her pack my suitcase.”
Elena leaned closer.
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“Why would she pack your suitcase?”
“Because the car is coming tomorrow.”
