Chapter 13 - The Gift at the Door
The package arrived on Saturday morning.
It was wrapped in pale pink paper and tied with an enormous white ribbon.
On top was a card.
For my darling Piper. Love, Nana.
Caleb found it on the cottage porch.
He hadn't given his mother the address.
That bothered him.
He brought the package inside but didn't open it.
June appeared from the kitchen holding a mug of coffee.
"What's that?"
"From Mom."
Her expression darkened.
"How'd she find us?"
"Probably through somebody who thought they were being helpful."
June examined the card.
"Are you going to give it to Piper?"
"I don't know."
"Then don't decide in the hallway. She's still asleep."
Caleb placed the package on a high shelf in the laundry room.
He didn't want to punish Piper by withholding something she might cherish.
But he also didn't want his mother using gifts to maintain access to a child she had endangered.
He called Piper's psychologist and left a message asking for guidance.
Then he made pancakes.
At eleven, the doorbell rang.
Caleb opened the front door.
His mother stood beneath the porch awning.
She wore a light blue dress and carried a white shopping bag.
"Hello, darling."
He didn't move.
"What are you doing here?"
Lenora looked past him.
"Is Piper inside?"
"I asked you not to come."
"I'm her grandmother."
"I know who you are."
She sighed.
"Must you be so unpleasant?"
"Mom, go home."
"I brought her something."
"You already left a package."
"That was only a little present. This is different."
She lifted the shopping bag.
Inside was a stuffed Golden Retriever wearing a miniature orange flotation vest.
Caleb stared at it.
For a moment, he thought he might be sick.
"Why would you bring that?"
Lenora blinked.
"Because Piper loves Scout."
"That vest."
"What about it?"
"Why would you put an orange swimming vest on a toy dog?"
Lenora looked inside the bag.
"Oh, for heaven's sake. It's just a toy."
Caleb stepped onto the porch and pulled the door partly closed behind him.
"Leave."
"Don't speak to me like I'm a stranger."
"Then stop acting like somebody I don't recognize."
Her expression hardened.
"Are you going to keep my granddaughter from me forever?"
"Until I know she's safe from you, yes."
Lenora lowered her voice.
"You can't just erase me from her life."
"I don't want to erase anybody. I want my daughter alive."
She stared at him.
Then, from inside the cottage, came a small voice.
"Daddy?"
Caleb turned.
Piper stood in the hallway holding her rabbit.
Her brown ponytail was crooked.
She looked from Caleb to the woman on the porch.
"Nana?"
Lenora's expression transformed.
"Oh, my precious girl!"
She moved forward.
Caleb blocked the doorway.
"Mom. Stop."
Piper remained still.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then she asked, "Nana, why'd you lock the door?"
Lenora froze.
Caleb felt his heart hammering.
Piper continued.
"I called you."
Lenora looked toward her son.
"Caleb, you've been putting ideas in her head."
Piper frowned.
"No."
Lenora ignored her.
"You've frightened this child with your accusations."
Caleb held up one hand.
"That's enough."
But Piper spoke again.
Her voice was tiny.
"I wanted to get out."
Lenora opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Piper hugged her rabbit.
"Why didn't you open it?"
For one extraordinary moment, Caleb saw his mother without the practiced smile.
She looked old.
And frightened.
Then she straightened.
"Sweetheart, Nana thought you were being a big girl."
Piper stared.
"You said I was."
"I did."
"But I was scared."
Lenora's mouth tightened.
"Well, sometimes being brave feels scary."
Caleb felt something inside him snap.
"Don't you dare."
His mother turned.
"Excuse me?"
"Don't teach her that being brave means staying somewhere dangerous because an adult tells her to."
Lenora stepped back.
"You're making a scene."
"Then leave."
She looked at Piper one last time.
"I love you, darling."
Piper didn't answer.
Lenora turned and walked toward her car.
Caleb shut the door.
His daughter stood motionless.
He crouched beside her.
"Hey, peanut."
Piper looked up.
"Was I bad?"
"No."
"Because I didn't say I love Nana?"
Caleb shook his head.
"You never have to say something you don't feel just to make a grown-up happy."
Piper considered that.
Then she whispered, "I used to love swimming."
Caleb pulled her gently into his arms.
"I know, sweetheart."
He held her until she stopped trembling.
That evening, Caleb received a call from Detective Alvarez.
"Your mother visited you today?"
"Yes."
"Did she contact Piper?"
"She spoke to her through the doorway."
"Did anyone record the conversation?"
"No."
"All right. Please write down what you remember while it's fresh."
Caleb hesitated.
"Is something happening?"
"We're pursuing several lines of inquiry."
"That's what you said last time."
Sofia remained patient.
"And it's still accurate."
He rubbed his forehead.
"Sorry."
"You don't need to apologize for wanting answers."
She paused.
"But there is something I can tell you. We've obtained authorization to examine additional items associated with the vest."
"The needles?"
"Among other things."
Caleb leaned against the kitchen counter.
"Do you think you'll find out who did it?"
"We're working toward an evidence-based answer."
She didn't promise more.
After the call, Caleb went into the laundry room.
He stared at the pink package.
He thought of Piper asking why she couldn't get out.
Then he picked up the gift and placed it in a storage box, unopened.
For now, there were things his daughter needed more than presents.
A safe house.
May you like
A father who believed her.
And adults who wouldn't make her earn their love by obeying dangerous instructions.
