Chapter 2 - Captain Rabbit
The pediatric respiratory specialist did not offer Julian the comforting answer he wanted.
Lena had experienced a frightening interruption of prescribed support, but her ongoing breathing weakness needed careful medical review.
"We're treating what happened today," Dr. Nina Patel said.
"We're not going to guess at the cause of every symptom she's had."
Julian nodded, though he wanted someone to promise his daughter would be fine.
"Can I go home tomorrow?" Lena asked.
"We'll decide that with your care team," Dr. Patel said.
"And we'll make sure home is safe first."
When the doctor left, Lena studied the canvas bag Julian had packed.
"You forgot Captain Rabbit."
His stomach sank.
The gray stuffed rabbit had been made by Lena's mother, Emma, from the lining of an old theater costume.
One ear was longer than the other, and a crooked embroidered star sat over its heart.
Emma had died when Lena was two.
Julian had spent years trying to make sure the little things she left behind survived.
Tonight, he had remembered chargers and clean socks but not the one thing Lena wanted.
"Aunt Mae can bring him," he said.
"She won't let Meredith take him?"
"No."
Lena hesitated.
"I hid the letter inside him."
Julian leaned forward.
"You did what?"
"I saw Meredith put it in the kitchen trash. It had a blue clinic stamp, and my name was on it."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I tried. You said we could talk after your meeting."
He remembered that evening, his phone against his ear, Lena waiting by the stairs.
He had not come back to the conversation.
Julian called his older sister Mae, who still had a spare key.
"Bring Captain Rabbit," he said.
"And please don't go alone. Ask the officer helping with our safety plan."
Mae went quiet.
"Julian, what's happened?"
"I don't know all of it yet."
May you like
He looked at Lena, who was watching him with exhausted seriousness.
"But I think my daughter has been trying to tell me for months."
