Chapter 8
I spent the next two days at Lily's hospital bedside.
She refused to sleep unless I sat beside her.
At night, she would wake suddenly and reach for me.
"Mommy?"
"I'm here."
She would look around the room.
Then she would ask the same question.
"Are we going home?"
"Yes, baby. Soon."
Sometimes she believed me.
Sometimes she cried.
I learned quickly that being rescued didn't mean she instantly felt safe.
Her body was home.
But her fear had followed her.
A child psychologist named Dr. Harris began visiting us.
She spoke softly and never forced Lily to answer questions.
She brought coloring pencils.
Small toys.
Books.
She told me healing would take time.
And I listened.
Because this time, I wasn't going to miss what my daughter needed.
On the second afternoon, Officer Bennett asked to speak with me privately.
A nurse stayed with Lily while I stepped into a small consultation room.
Bennett placed several documents on the table.
"Mrs. Bennett, we've reviewed Marcus's financial transactions."
I crossed my arms.
"Tell me."
He explained that Marcus had transferred two hundred thousand dollars to Daniel before realizing Lily had been kidnapped.
But the second payment was different.
Five hundred thousand dollars.
Sent after Daniel's ransom demand.
I felt sick.
"Why?"
"Marcus says Daniel contacted him privately and threatened to hurt Lily if he involved the police."
I stared at him.
"Did he believe him?"
"Apparently."
I covered my face.
"He should have told you."
"Yes."
"Did the payment help?"
Bennett shook his head.
"No. Daniel kept the money and continued demanding more."
I sat down.
It was almost unbearable.
Marcus had finally tried to protect our daughter.
But he had done it secretly.
Recklessly.
Without trusting the people actually trying to save her.
Officer Bennett continued.
"We also discovered something else."
I looked up.
"Vanessa forged documents to make it appear that Marcus had requested custody of Lily before separating from you."
My stomach tightened.
"He actually had custody papers prepared."
"Yes. But Vanessa altered certain sections and sent copies to Daniel."
I frowned.
"Why?"
"To convince Daniel that Marcus wanted Lily separated from you. It helped Daniel justify his actions and manipulate Marcus."
I stared at the table.
The woman had exploited everything.
My husband's selfishness.
Our marriage problems.
My daughter's desperate love.
And somehow, she had convinced herself that destroying our family would give her the life she wanted.
"Will she go to prison?"
"The charges are serious. Prosecutors will determine the final counts and penalties through the court process."
I nodded.
I wanted justice.
Real justice.
Not revenge that would put Lily through more pain.
But I wanted Vanessa to face what she had done.
Officer Bennett hesitated.
"Marcus has asked to see his daughter."
My chest tightened.
"No."
He nodded.
"I'll let him know."
I looked toward the hospital room.
"He broke her heart before Daniel ever touched her."
Bennett didn't argue.
I appreciated that.
That evening, Marcus appeared outside Lily's room.
He was holding a small stuffed elephant.
I stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind me.
His face was pale.
He looked older.
"Nia."
"What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to see her."
"She's resting."
He looked past me.
"Please."
I shook my head.
"Not yet."
His eyes filled.
"She's my daughter."
I looked directly at him.
"Then you should have remembered that when she called."
He lowered his head.
I continued.
"Do you know what she asked me when the police found her?"
He shook his head.
"She asked whether she was still your little girl."
Marcus began crying.
I felt tears burn behind my own eyes.
"Your affair hurt me. Your lies destroyed our marriage. But what you did to Lily..."
I couldn't finish.
Marcus wiped his face.
"I know I failed her."
"Yes."
"I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make it right."
I looked at the toy in his hands.
"Making it right isn't something you can promise. It's something you have to do."
He nodded.
"Tell me how."
I took a breath.
"Start by respecting what she needs. She needs safety. Stability. Time."
"I can do that."
"And you need professional help. You need to understand why you walked away from your child and why you kept making choices that put your own comfort first."
He looked ashamed.
"I've already made an appointment."
I was surprised.
But I didn't praise him.
An appointment was a beginning.
Nothing more.
"Good."
He looked toward the door.
"Can I leave this for her?"
I took the elephant.
"I'll ask if she wants it."
He nodded.
Then he whispered, "Do you hate me?"
I looked at him for a long moment.
A year earlier, the question would have devastated me.
Now it seemed strangely unimportant.
"I don't know what I feel about you anymore."
His face crumpled.
"But I know exactly what I feel about Lily. And that's where my energy belongs."
He nodded.
Then he walked away.
I returned to the room.
Lily was awake.
She looked at the elephant.
"Is that from Daddy?"
I nodded.
"He wanted you to have it."
She studied the toy.
Then she looked at me.
"Did he come?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't he come inside?"
I sat beside her.
"Because I told him you needed rest. And because I want you to decide when you're ready to see him."
She was quiet.
Then she asked, "Can I still love him?"
My eyes filled.
"Oh, sweetheart."
I hugged her gently.
"You can love your daddy as much as you want."
"Even if you're mad at him?"
"Even then."
She leaned against me.
"I miss when we were happy."
I kissed her head.
"So do I."
She looked up.
"Will we ever be happy again?"
I smiled through my tears.
"Yes, baby. Maybe not in exactly the same way. But we will."
She thought about that.
Then she reached for the stuffed elephant.
She placed it beside her rabbit.
And for the first time since her rescue, she fell asleep without asking whether someone would take her away.
But the next morning, my attorney called.
May you like
The court had received an emergency filing involving Lily's custody.
And Marcus's name was on it.
