Chapter 12 - Daniel Admits What He Missed
Anger was easy.
Responsibility was harder.
Vanessa deceived me.
Michael betrayed me.
But I had ignored warning signs.
Lily became quiet around Vanessa.
She stopped asking me to travel less because she had learned the answer
would be “after this project.”
Once, she told me Vanessa did not like her touching Mommy’s things.
I answered:
“Vanessa is just trying to keep them safe.”
I had translated my daughter’s discomfort into an explanation that made
my life easier.
In therapy, I told Lily:
“I should have listened sooner.”
She asked:
“Were you mad at me?”
“No.”
“Then why didn’t you know?”
There was no answer that made me look good.
“Because grown-ups can miss things when they think they already
understand.”
She nodded.
Then said:
May you like
“You should ask more questions.”
Claire would have smiled.
