Chapter 13
I ran up the stairs. Two at a time. My head still throbbed. My body still ached.
I didn't care.
I reached Elodie's room. The door was open.
She was sitting on the floor, hugging her stuffed rabbit. She looked up when I entered.
Her face was streaked with tears.
"Is it over?" she whispered.
I knelt down in front of her. I opened my arms.
"It's over, baby," I said.
She crawled into my arms. She held on tight.
"I was scared," she said.
"I know," I said. I stroked her hair. "I'm here now. I'll always be here."
Detective Chen appeared in the doorway. She smiled when she saw us.
"Harrison and Celestine are in custody," she said. "Captain Reeves too. The news is covering it live. It's everywhere."
She walked into the room. She knelt down so she was at Elodie's level.
"Hi, sweetie," she said gently. "I'm Detective Chen. I'm here to help you and your mom."
Elodie looked at me.
"Are you really my mom?" she asked.
Tears filled my eyes. I nodded.
"I'm really your mom," I said. "I never stopped loving you. Not for one second."
Elodie studied my face. She reached out and touched my cheek. Where Celestine had hit me.
"Did she hurt you?" she asked.
"I'm okay," I said. "I'm just happy I'm here with you."
She leaned her head against my chest.
"I knew you were my mom," she said quietly. "I dreamed about you."
My heart broke and healed all at once.
Detective Chen stood up.
"The social worker is here," she said. "She needs to talk to Elodie. And then... you two can go."
"Go where?" I said.
"Home," Detective Chen said. "Margaret's lawyer called. He has temporary custody papers. Elodie is yours. For now. And after the trial, it'll be permanent."
I couldn't believe it.
Three years of hell. And now, suddenly, it was over.
The social worker came in. She was kind. Gentle. She talked to Elodie in soft tones. She asked her questions. She examined her bruises.
Elodie answered everything. She was brave. Braver than any four-year-old should have to be.
When she was done, the social worker looked at me.
"She's been through a lot," she said. "She's going to need therapy. A lot of it. And she's going to need patience. Love. Stability."
"I'll give her everything," I said.
The social worker smiled.
"I know you will," she said.
She handed me the papers. Temporary custody.
I held Elodie's hand as we walked down the stairs.
The ballroom was mostly empty now. Just police officers and reporters.
Harrison and Celestine were gone. Taken to jail.
We walked out into the cool night air.
The ocean crashed against the cliffs. The stars were bright.
Detective Chen's car was waiting.
"Where to?" she asked.
I looked at Elodie. She was tired. Her eyes were closing.
"The hospital," I said. "I want Margaret to see her. To know we're okay."
Detective Chen nodded. She started the car.
We drove to the hospital.
Margaret was in a regular room now. She was sitting up in bed, watching the news.
She looked up when we entered. Her face lit up.
Elodie walked over to the bed. She looked at Margaret's bruises.
"Did Daddy hurt you?" she asked.
Margaret's eyes filled with tears. She nodded.
"Yes, sweetie," she said. "But I'm okay now."
Elodie reached out and touched Margaret's hand.
"My mom is here now," she said. "She'll protect us."
Margaret looked at me. Gratitude and sorrow in her eyes.
"She will," Margaret said. "I know she will."
I sat down next to the bed. I held Margaret's hand.
"Thank you," I said.
"Don't thank me," Margaret said. "I should have done this three years ago."
She looked at Elodie.
"I'm going to make this right," she said. "I'm going to testify. I'm going to tell the truth about everything. Harrison will never hurt anyone again."
Elodie climbed onto the bed. She curled up next to Margaret.
"Can we be a family now?" she asked.
Margaret looked at me. I nodded.
"Yes, sweetie," Margaret said. "We can be a family."
Elodie smiled. It was the first real smile I'd seen from her.
She closed her eyes. Within minutes, she was asleep.
Margaret and I sat in silence for a while. Watching her sleep.
"The cottage in Maine," Margaret said. "It's real. It's waiting for you."
"I know," I said. "I found the letter."
"Go there," Margaret said. "After the trial. Take Elodie. Start over. You both deserve it."
May you like
I looked at my daughter. Sleeping peacefully. Safe.
For the first time in three years, I felt like I could breathe.
