Chapter 14
Rose became head of the children’s household staff.
She refused the title at first.
“Sounds ridiculous.”
Fair.
We shortened it to:
Rose.
Everyone understood.
She hired two new caregivers.
I interviewed neither alone.
Rose did.
The girls met them.
One lasted three days because June hated her perfume.
Unfair.
Still useful.
Another stayed.
The important change was not personnel.
It was access.
No adult could block every path between my daughters and me.
If Rose could not reach me, she had two other people.
If a child said someone was withholding food, no one waited for context before feeding her.
If Vanessa—or any future partner—claimed I ordered something unusual, staff could verify.
Not because partners are untrustworthy.
Because nobody gets to borrow my authority invisibly again.
The house became noisier.
Questions.
Confirmations.
Interruptions.
May you like
Better.
Silence had nearly starved my daughters.
