Chapter 4
The bus ticket was for a city four hours away.
The bag held two small dresses, a hairbrush, and a copy of a birth certificate with Nora’s name on it. Vanessa had told Colin she planned to take Nora to “someone who could keep her” until she decided what to do.
I heard that from the investigator, not from Vanessa.
For a moment, I could not stop picturing what would have happened if Ivy had not shown me the gap in the closet.
I went upstairs.
Ivy was asleep with one hand under her cheek. I sat beside her until she stirred.
“Daddy?”
“I’m here.”
“Did Nora eat dinner?”
“Yes. And breakfast.”
“Did she have Button?”
“She kept him with her.”
Ivy smiled.
“Good.”
I wanted to ask every question about the nights she had gone into the closet. I held back. She needed to speak with someone trained to help her, without me filling the spaces with my fear.
“I love you,” I said.
“I love you too.”
The next morning, a child specialist met with Ivy. Maya took her to the appointment while I spoke with the police and Ms. Brooks about Nora’s immediate care.
Colin gave a statement.
He said Vanessa called him three weeks earlier and asked him to help bring Nora from Rosa’s house. He believed Ryan knew and wanted a private introduction. On the drive back, Vanessa admitted she had not told me yet.
“Why didn’t he come to me?” I asked the investigator.
“He says Vanessa told him you’d be angry and might blame him for helping. He says he should have checked.”
Colin had seen the photograph Grace sent with Nora’s things. Vanessa asked him to keep it out of sight because it would upset me. He kept it in his car.
“He knew Nora was in the passage?” I asked.
“He says Vanessa told him on the first day. He brought food twice. Yesterday, he came through the attic access to get her out because he believed Vanessa was about to move her again.”
“He still didn’t call anyone.”
“No,” the investigator said. “He’s being questioned about that.”
I thought of him stepping through the wall with the photograph in his hand. He had finally told the truth when I could already see Nora.
His help mattered. So did the days he stayed silent.
Rosa called at noon. Nora had slept most of the morning. She wanted to know whether I was coming at four, as promised.
“I’ll be there.”
Rosa hesitated.
“Ryan, I need to ask something. Do you blame me?”
“I wish you’d called me before giving Nora to Vanessa. I also know Vanessa lied to you.”
“I should have protected her.”
“You’re protecting her now.”
There was a pause.
“Grace wanted Nora to know you,” Rosa said. “I hope you’ll take the time to do that.”
“So do I.”
At four, I arrived with Ivy and Maya. I had asked Ms. Brooks whether a short visit with the girls was appropriate. She encouraged us to follow Nora’s comfort and keep it quiet.
Ivy ran toward Nora, then stopped short.
“Can I hug you?”
Nora nodded.
They embraced. Ivy handed Button back and pulled another stuffed animal from her bag.
“This one is for you to keep.”
Nora held both.
We sat on Rosa’s living-room rug and drew pictures. Nora asked if I liked strawberries. I asked if she liked dogs. We learned tiny things because the large things were too heavy to lift all at once.
When it was time to leave, Nora’s face fell.
“I’ll come again tomorrow,” I said.
“What if you forget?”
“I’ll write it down.”
I did, on a piece of paper Rosa taped to the refrigerator.
Friday, four o’clock. Ryan and Ivy visit Nora.
Nora read it aloud.
On the way home, Ivy asked, “Is Nora my sister?”
“She may be. We’re getting the test to be certain.”
“She already feels like my sister.”
I looked at her in the rearview mirror.
“You can care about her while we learn the facts.”
At home, Vanessa had left a voicemail.
“I never meant to hurt those girls,” she said. “I panicked because Nora would change everything. Please let me explain before you decide who I am.”
I listened once and saved it for the investigator.
Then I went into the closet. Someone had closed the loose panel. Bread crumbs lay on the shelf.
I stood there until Maya came to find me.
“Ryan?”
“She was in our house every night,” I said. “I could hear her.”
“You know now.”
“I should have opened the wall sooner.”
May you like
Maya put a hand on my shoulder.
“You opened it when Ivy showed you. Now keep listening to both girls.”
