The Daughter She Forgot

't do it,

but firm. I steppe

. Leo was the one

rmine me, Michael. And don't you

cal thing, a wall be

zoning proposal, not a coloring

eed to understand consequences, no matter their age. She will

punishment, learned from some outdated p

," I said, my voice r

traumatized by

." Jessica's voice was col

looking at me wit

ad

s them. "Let h

g me. "Now, now, Michael. Let

k was in

bing Chloe to the cor

e. No dinner. Until

sically held me back. He was surprisi

o, Mark!"

wn, buddy," he said,

loe's small, he

own daughter, punished for something

her crying to

n the couch, a stone

eft with Leo, both pl

in her offic

a smal

had co

ca who finally emerged, looki

at

swer. I rus

, her breath

ed her up. She was bur

he whispered, her eyes flu

know you didn't." I

omething – concern? Guilt? – in

her bed. She need

dn't bothered to restock a

r," I said to Jess

ael. Can't it wa

N

oking for anything. A lit

. Jessica's "grocery shopp

essica's phone. She answered it,

ectrolyte drink? The expensive imported one? Of

e top shelf – a bottle I hadn't even

ol finally snapping. "Your da

b. "Leo is very sensitive, Mich

n she w

d cold, flood

a few minutes later, as Jessi

king. "Prob

ay a word.

t connected

ed back,

. "Michael! What

een us, trying

cheek. A sharp sting. Not ha

ortunist, clutched

Jessie! For no re

erated pain to the small scra

he accused, her eyes blazin

t about me? Wh

, the injustice of i

ice bitter, resigned.

of concern crossed her face as she sa

it was gone, replaced

too, that

eyes. He wasn't done. He was

ring, twisted sense of loyalty to me

loe slept, and a new, more sinist

use his

ssica was surpri

oe soup. Rea

to mend the gaping

t distant. The light

, Jessica came to

s... there's a p

of rare blood disorder. The doctors aren't sure... they said

t me, her ey

hloe might