Chapter 8 - Rebuilding the Pieces
Over the next two months, the storm surrounding our lives slowly began to clear.
Claire’s physical therapy clinic closed permanently after her state license was revoked. Faced with overwhelming evidence gathered by child protective services and financial investigators, she accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to child endangerment, grand larceny, and insurance fraud, receiving a five-year prison sentence.
With the legal battle over, I focused entirely on healing Nora.
We spent our afternoons sitting on the front porch, reading her favorite books while her pink cast was finally removed, replaced by a light wrist brace.
One evening, while we were making homemade pizza in the kitchen, Nora paused while spreading tomato sauce onto the dough.
"Dad?" she asked softly.
"Yeah, sweetie?"
"Are you ever going to get married again?"
May you like
I set down the cheese bowl and walked over to sit beside her on the kitchen stool. "No time soon, Nora. It’s just going to be you and me for a very long time. I promise."
Nora let out a long breath, a quiet smile spreading across her face. "Good. Because I like our family just the way it is."
