Chapter 3 - GOOD GIRLS REMEMBER
Daniel stood frozen while Hannah wrapped a towel around Sophie’s waist.
Sophie had been toilet trained for more than a year.
“It was an accident,” Daniel said.
Hannah looked at him. “I know.”
The difference between them was that Hannah was talking to Sophie.
Vanessa came through the front door without knocking.
She was beautiful in the polished, expensive way that made strangers trust her immediately. Cream coat. Perfect hair. Soft voice.
“Oh, sweetheart.” She crouched beside Sophie. “Another accident?”
Sophie flinched.
Vanessa did too.
Her smile tightened for less than a second.
“We should go,” Daniel said.
“No,” Hannah answered.
Daniel turned. “What?”
“Sophie stays today.”
“You don’t get to change the schedule because she peed her pants.”
“I’m changing it because she is terrified.”
Vanessa stood. “That is an outrageous thing to say in front of her.”
“Then stop giving me reasons to say it.”
The argument rose fast. Daniel accused Hannah of jealousy. Vanessa accused her of poisoning Sophie against the marriage. Hannah kept one hand on her daughter’s shoulder and refused to move.
Two hours later, Sophie fell asleep on the couch.
Her stuffed rabbit slipped to the floor.
Hannah picked it up.
It was a laminated reward chart.
At the top, in Vanessa’s neat handwriting, were the words GOOD GIRLS REMEMBER.
Call Vanessa Mommy.
Don’t ask for Hannah after bedtime.
Say “our family” when Daddy is home.
No secrets with Hannah.
Hannah took photos before putting it back exactly where she had found it.
The caller identified herself as Ms. Greene from Sophie’s preschool.
“Mrs. Pierce, I’m sorry to bother you. I just need to confirm something.”
“What?”
“Did you authorize Vanessa Pierce to remove you from Sophie’s emergency contact list?”
Hannah slowly sat down.
“No.”
May you like
Ms. Greene went quiet.
“Then we may have a problem,” she said. “Because someone submitted a signed form yesterday.”
