Chapter 9
Six months later.
I stood in the kitchen, making breakfast, when Lily ran in.
"Mommy! Mommy! Look what I drew!"
She held up a picture. Three stick figures. Me. Her. And a big sun above us.
"It's our family," she said proudly.
I knelt down and hugged her.
"It's perfect, baby."
That afternoon, I got a call from Daniel's lawyer.
He wanted to increase his visitation. He said he'd been going to therapy. He said he'd changed.
I thought about it.
I agreed to a meeting. At a neutral place. With a supervisor present.
Daniel showed up. He looked different. Quieter. Humbler.
"I've been working on myself," he said. "I know I can't undo what I did. But I want to be a good father to Lily. And I want to earn back your trust. Not as a husband. But as the father of your child."
I looked at him. Really looked at him.
I didn't see the man I'd married. I didn't see the man who'd betrayed me.
May you like
I just saw a father. Who loved his daughter. Who was trying to do better.
"We'll see," I said. "One step at a time."
