“I drove her to urgent care.”
“I told them you knew.”
My stomach turned. “What?”
“I listed you as unavailable for ‘acute grief instability.’ I said your therapist recommended limited contact. Early calls had to be approved through me.”
“I didn’t even have a therapist.”
“I know.”
I grabbed the hallway table.
“I didn’t even have a therapist.”
“You wrote me out of my own child’s life.”
“I paid privately,” he said. “No insurance, no mailed statements. I didn’t want questions.”
“You wanted control.”
“No. I love her.”
“You can love someone and still do something unforgivable.”
The detective arrived soon after and questioned Mark about dates, payments, locations, and bank accounts.
“I didn’t want questions.”
Then I turned to him.
“Where is my daughter?”
He looked back at me.
“We contacted the center. Sophie is currently listed as a patient.”
“She’s alive?” I asked.
“Yes.”
My daughter was alive. My legs almost gave out, but I locked my knees.
“Sophie is currently listed as a patient.”
“Give me the address,” I said.
“Ma’am…”
“Give me the address to my daughter.”
I grabbed the receipt.
“That’s 2 hours away,” I said. “Across state lines.”
“We need to coordinate,” the detective said.
“Then coordinate fast. I’m done being the last person told where my child is.”
I grabbed the receipt.
I turned toward the door.
“I’m going to her.”
Mark stood. “I’m coming.”
I looked at him.
“No. You’re not.”
“Dani…”
“You made every decision for a year. Now I make this one.”
Denise picked up my purse and keys. “I’ll drive.”
“I’m going to her.”
***
At the center, a counselor met me in a small office.
“Detective Harris called ahead,” the counselor said. “We’re reviewing Sophie’s file now.”
I gripped the chair. “I’m not here for a statement. I’m here for my daughter.”
Her expression softened. “Sophie is here. She’s physically stable, but she still has anxiety and memory gaps from the accident.”
“Does she know I’m here?”
“We’re reviewing Sophie’s file now.”
“Not yet. We wanted to prepare her.”
“No.”
The counselor blinked. “No?”
“My daughter spent a year believing I didn’t come for her,” I said. “I’m not waiting outside while adults decide what’s best.”
Denise touched my elbow. “Easy, Dani.”
