Chapter 18
After the trial, life did not snap into happiness.
It unfolded.
Slowly.
Poppy started therapy.
So did I.
Elena too.
Claire joked that the whole family needed a punch card.
She was right.
We created routines.
Sunday pancakes at my house.
Tuesday park walks with Elena.
Friday dinner with Claire.
Serena visited sometimes with Jonah, carefully, because Poppy liked babies and because Serena was trying to become honest without demanding forgiveness.
Grant’s estate was settled.
The life insurance remained with Poppy.
The house stayed mine.
Claire received Robert’s hidden trust after the court restored her inheritance.
Elena received restitution and a formal apology from the state agency that failed her.
No apology was big enough.
But the money helped her build a life.
One afternoon, Poppy asked to visit Grant’s grave.
We went together.
She brought a drawing.
It showed me, Grant, Elena, Claire, Serena, Jonah, and herself under a huge tree.
“Families are weird,” she said.
I almost laughed.
“Yes.”
“Daddy did bad things.”
“Yes.”
“But he helped at the end.”
“Yes.”
She placed the drawing by his stone.
“I’m still mad,” she whispered. “But I love you.”
I cried silently.
So did Elena, who had come at Poppy’s request.
On the drive home, Poppy took both our hands from the back seat.
“I like having more people,” she said.
May you like
My heart softened.
“So do I.”
