Chapter 19
Daniel agreed to one supervised meeting.
"Why Lily?" he asked.
Vanessa looked down. "I needed the trust moved."
"You terrorized a four-year-old for money."
"It wasn't supposed to go that far."
"The pool?"
"To scare her."
"The hallway?"
"She found the recorder. I panicked."
Daniel stared at her.
"You made her believe I would choose you over her."
Vanessa whispered, "You did."
He nodded once.
"For too long, yes. That's my failure. Your choices are still yours."
Vanessa pleaded guilty to child endangerment, conspiracy, forgery, intimidation, and financial crimes.
At sentencing, Lily's advocate read one sentence:
"I want adults to stop telling kids what happened to them."
Months later, in family therapy, Lily gave both parents a rule.
"No secrets that make my tummy hurt."
May you like
Then she raised one finger.
"And one more."
