PART 2

I walked past every guest without greeting anyone.

I took the platter from Olivia’s trembling hands and lifted her into my arms.

Her tiny arms immediately wrapped around my neck.

Her fingers were cold, wrinkled, slippery with soap.

“Dad, my hands hurt really bad,” she whispered softly into my ear, “but please don’t tell Grandma because she will get extremely mad at Mom.”

Something inside me broke.

“Go straight to your room right now, princess, close the door tightly, and do not come out until I come call for you,” I instructed gently.

Olivia obeyed without hesitation.

That alone told me how accustomed she’d become to following orders.

When she disappeared down the hallway, I turned to Jessica.

I reached for her hands.

She immediately tried to hide them behind her back.

“Zayden, please don’t make a big problem out of this,” Jessica pleaded softly.