Chapter 16
The first overnight lasted four hours.
That was not the plan.
Audrey arrived at Natalie’s townhouse carrying a pink backpack, one stuffed rabbit, two pairs of pajamas, and enough snacks for several days.
Cassandro carried none of it.
Audrey had insisted.
“I can.”
So he let her.
Natalie stood beside the front door.
Not reaching.
That mattered.
“Hi.”
Audrey looked past her.
The townhouse was small compared with the Moretti estate.
Two floors.
Narrow staircase.
No staff.
No security men visible inside.
“Where room?”
Natalie showed her.
The bedroom had been prepared carefully.
Too carefully.
Fresh sheets.
New books.
Blue blanket.
A framed photograph from before Natalie disappeared.
Audrey stared at the photograph.
She was three.
Natalie held her on one hip.
Cassandro stood beside them.
All three smiling.
“Why Daddy here?”
Natalie looked at the picture.
“Because he was there when it was taken.”
“Do you want him here?”
That question was harder.
Natalie answered honestly.
“I want the picture because it reminds me of you.”
Audrey considered.
Then accepted that.
Dinner went well.
Bath went well.
Pajamas went well.
Bedtime did not.
At nine twelve Audrey called Cassandro.
Not crying.
Yet.
“Daddy.”
“Yes?”
“You home?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“In my study.”
She became quiet.
Cassandro understood the question beneath the question.
Still there.
Still reachable.
Not gone.
“I’m home,” he repeated.
Audrey whispered:
“Okay.”
Natalie sat outside the bedroom door.
She did not tell Audrey to hang up.
Cassandro did not tell her to stay.
After five minutes Audrey said:
“Bye.”
“Goodnight.”
She ended the call.
At ten thirty she called again.
This time crying.
“I want home.”
Cassandro stood immediately.
Natalie heard through the open door.
Her face changed.
Not anger.
Pain.
Audrey saw.
That made her cry harder.
“Mom sad.”
Natalie sat on the floor.
“Yes.”
“Because me?”
“No.”
“You want me stay.”
“Yes.”
The answer came carefully.
“And you still get to go home.”
Audrey stared.
Both.
Natalie could want something and not make Audrey responsible for providing it.
Cassandro arrived twenty-seven minutes later.
He did not come inside until Natalie opened the door.
Audrey ran toward him.
Then stopped halfway.
Looked back.
Natalie remained near the stairs.
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
“I come again.”
Natalie swallowed.
“Okay.”
“Not sleep.”
“Okay.”
Cassandro took Audrey home.
No disappointment speech.
No discussion about progress.
No suggestion that four hours was failure.
The next morning Audrey asked:
“Did Mom cry after?”
Cassandro did not know.
“I don’t know.”
“Can ask?”
“You can.”
Audrey called.
Natalie answered.
“Yes. I cried.”
Audrey became quiet.
“Because I left?”
“Because I missed you.”
“That same.”
“No.”
Natalie chose her words.
“You leaving made me sad.”
Another pause.
“But you did not do something wrong by leaving.”
Audrey thought.
“Can both?”
“Yes.”
That distinction mattered more than the overnight.
Three weeks later Audrey tried again.
This time she stayed until morning.
May you like
Not because everyone praised the first attempt.
Because nobody punished her for stopping it.
