Chapter 9 - A DIFFERENT KIND OF HOME
The investigation continued for several weeks. Viviana was formally questioned about the medication, the physical incidents, and the attempt to obtain false statements. Peter Sloane was also interviewed after investigators found messages showing he had helped arrange the private psychologist's draft report.
Damian did not attend the interviews. His attorney advised him to let the evidence speak.
At home, the changes were quieter.
Grace began meeting with a child therapist named Dr. Evans. At first, she barely spoke. She drew pictures instead: a large house, a little girl, a woman with dark hair, and a tall man standing nearby.
Over time, she began to talk about the things that frightened her. She told Dr. Evans that she had learned to hide food because Viviana sometimes made her wait until bedtime if she refused a meal. She described being told that Lara would be sent away if she cried. She also explained that she had stopped asking Damian to read bedtime stories because Viviana said he was too important to be bothered.
Damian listened to the therapist's guidance and changed his schedule.
He began taking Grace to school twice a week. He read to her every night he was home. He learned which foods she disliked and stopped insisting that she finish every bite.
One evening, Grace asked him why he had not noticed sooner.
He did not lie. “I thought other people were taking care of things. I should have asked you more questions and listened more carefully.”
“Were you mad?”
“Not at you.”
“Even when I told you Lara hit me?”
“Even then. You were trying to tell me something was wrong. I'm glad you did.”
Grace rested her head against his shoulder. “I was scared you wouldn't believe me.”
“I know.”
Lara stood at the doorway, listening.
Later, Damian found her in the staff kitchen. “Thank you,” he said.
Lara shook her head. “I didn't do anything extraordinary.”
“You stayed when it was easier to leave.”
“I stayed because Grace needed someone.”
“And because you were brave enough to speak.”
Lara looked down. “I was afraid.”
“Being afraid doesn't make it less brave.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Lara said, “I don't want Grace to think she owes me anything.”
“She won't.”
“Good. She deserves to be a child, not to feel responsible for the adults around her.”
Damian nodded. “That is what I'm trying to learn.”
The next morning, Grace left a drawing on his desk. It showed three people standing beneath a bright yellow sun. Above them, in uneven letters, she had written: MY SAFE PEOPLE.
May you like
Damian placed it beside his father's photograph. It was the most important thing in his office.
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