A month after adopting Jennifer, she looked up at me with wide eyes and whispered, “Mommy, don’t trust Daddy.” Her words lingered, making me wonder what secrets Richard might be hiding.
Jennifer clung to me during our family outings, barely responding to Richard’s warmth. At bedtime, she repeated her warning, her small face serious. “He’s talking weird. Like he’s hiding something.”
Later, I overheard Richard on the phone. His voice was low, tense. “Jennifer’s noticing more than I thought. I’m afraid she might tell Marla… It’s hard to keep things under wraps.” My heart pounded. What wasn’t I supposed to know?
That night, I confronted him. He hesitated before finally admitting, “I didn’t want you to find out because… I was planning a surprise for Jennifer’s birthday. With my brother’s help.”
Relief washed over me, but Jennifer’s words still echoed in my mind. Was that really all there was to it?
