— A couple of hours, but don’t worry, we have officers guarding your daughter around the clock.
As he drove to the station, Michael felt a strange mix of relief and horror.
Victoria was arrested, but Ellie would have to live with the knowledge that the woman who had been her mother for three years was her real mother’s killer. But for the first time in years, Ellie was truly safe. And for the first time in her life, she could speak freely, without fear. The nightmare was over, but the real healing was just beginning.
Three months after Victoria’s arrest, Michael waited nervously in the living room of his home, which had been completely renovated. He’d removed every trace of Victoria. The cold, minimalist furniture had been replaced with comfortable sofas and warm colors. The fake family photos were replaced with Ellie’s drawings and photos of real happy moments.
Ellie was running in the garden, chasing butterflies. Her laughter filled the air with the music Michael had longed to hear for years. Therapy was working wonders. Dr. Sarah Vance, a top child psychologist, helped Ellie process the truth about her mother without further traumatizing her.
— Daddy, — Ellie said one afternoon while they were doing homework together. — Did my Mommy Catherine love me?
— She loved you more than her own life, princess. Never doubt that.
— And Victoria never really loved me?
Michael chose his words carefully.
— Victoria was a very sick person, sweetheart. Sick people sometimes do terrible things, but it was never your fault.
Hope had been key to Ellie’s recovery. The two girls had become inseparable, and Mary had happily accepted the job Michael offered her—managing his new charitable foundation, “Hope for All,” dedicated to helping children in vulnerable situations.
— Michael, — Mary said that morning, making coffee in the renovated kitchen. — Ellie wanted to talk to you about something important.
— Do you know what it’s about?
— I think it’s about her future. She’s a very wise girl for her age.
Ellie ran into the kitchen with Hope right behind her. At six years old, Ellie had fully regained her vibrant personality. She talked constantly, asked questions about everything, and her laugh was contagious.
— Daddy, Hope and I were talking about something really important.
— What’s that, princess?
Ellie took Hope’s hand and looked at him with determination.
— Hope is my best friend in the whole world. She’s like my sister. And Mary is like a mom to me now.
Michael felt his eyes fill with tears.
— What are you trying to tell me, sweetheart?
— We want Hope and Mary to live with us forever. So we can be a real family.
Hope nodded vigorously.
— Yeah, we don’t ever want to be apart again.
Mary approached Michael with moist eyes.
— Michael, we don’t want to impose.
— Mary, — Michael interrupted. — You’re already part of this family. We just needed to make it official.
The two girls screamed with joy and ran to hug him. Mary wept quietly, overwhelmed by the generosity and love.
That day, while the girls played in the pool under Mary’s supervision, Michael received a call from Detective Peterson.
— Michael, I have news about Victoria’s case.
— What happened?
— The jury found her guilty on all counts. She’s been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. She’ll never get out.
Michael felt a massive weight lift from his shoulders.
— And the Swiss accounts?
— They’ve been frozen. The money is being repatriated. Since it was stolen from your companies, it’ll be returned to you.
— Detective, I want to donate that money to organizations that help children who are victims of abuse.
— A very noble decision, Michael.
After the call, Michael sat in a chair in the garden and watched Ellie and Hope play together. It was incredible to think that just three months ago, Ellie was a silent, terrified girl, and Hope was a poor girl selling water on the street.
— What are you thinking about, Daddy? — Ellie asked, coming over with wet hair and a wide smile.
— I’m thinking about how lucky I am to have you, princess.
— I’m lucky too. I have the best dad in the world, an amazing sister, and a second mom who makes the best pancakes.
Hope joined in.
— And I have a sister who taught me that princesses can be brave, and a Dad Mike who takes care of us all.
Michael hugged them both.
— You know what? I think we need to do something special to celebrate being a family.
— What? – they asked in unison.
— How about a trip to Disney World?
