Chapter 7 - The Healing Begins
That evening, after hiring Brenda full-time to assist with the twins during the week, I sat down with Hallie in her bedroom.
I brought a tray with two cups of hot chocolate and a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies. Hallie was sitting on her bed, her knees pulled up to her chest, looking fragile and exhausted.
"Hey, sweetie," I said, setting the tray on her nightstand and sitting beside her.
She looked at me cautiously. "Is Dad coming back tonight?"
"No, Hallie," I said gently, taking her hand. "Dad is going to be staying somewhere else for a while."
Hallie’s eyes filled with tears, and her lower lip trembled. "Is it because I told you about the golf course? If I kept quiet—"
"Stop right there, Hallie," I interrupted, cupping her face in my hands, looking directly into her eyes. "Listen to me very carefully. None of this—not a single part of this—is your fault."
"But Dad said—"
"Dad was wrong," I said firmly, my voice filled with unconditional love. "Dad was supposed to protect you and take care of the babies. He made bad choices, and he lied to both of us. You did the brave, right thing by telling me the truth. You saved your brothers, and you helped me see what was happening."
Hallie let out a long, shuddering sob, her small shoulders shaking. She threw her arms around my neck, burying her face in my shoulder.
"I was so tired, Mom," she sobbed, releasing months of pent-up fear and stress. "I was so tired of holding the bottles and worrying if they were going to cry... and I missed my art class at school when he picked me up..."
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My heart broke into a thousand pieces, but as I held her close, rocking her back and forth, I felt the first real step toward healing begin.
"You don't have to be tired anymore, sweetie," I whispered into her hair. "You get to just be ten years old again. No more changing diapers. No more keeping secrets. I promise you."
