Chapter 8 - She Wanted Me to Leave Ohio
After Grace was born, I stayed with Amanda for:
two weeks.
My own house felt:
too empty.
The nursery was ready.
Daniel’s coffee mug still by the sink.
His shoes still beneath the bench.
I could not imagine walking through that front door holding the daughter he never got to:
meet.
Vivian encouraged:
distance.
“You should stay with Amanda longer.”
“You need women around.”
Reasonable.
Then:
“Maybe move closer to your parents.”
My parents lived in:
Indianapolis.
Three hours away.
I said:
“I’m not moving.”
“Why stay here?”
“My job.”
“Take leave.”
“My friends.”
“You can make friends.”
“This is Grace’s home.”
Vivian’s expression tightened.
“No.”
“It was Daniel’s home.”
Again.
Then:
“You’d be happier somewhere without all the memories.”
Maybe.
But I wanted:
the memories.
Painful and mine.
The day I told Vivian I planned to bring Grace home Saturday, she went quiet.
Four days later, at 2:24 on Thursday morning, my neighbor called.
“Rachel?”
I was feeding:
Grace.
“There are fire trucks at your house.”
I stopped breathing.
“What?”
May you like
“Your house is on fire.”
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