Page 33 of His Daughter

"What’s going on? Did you see Declan Hale again? Did he finally call?"

I picked at my cuticle. “Something like that.”

“Don’t tell me he showed up on your doorstep.”

I flinched.

“Shut up. He did? When? How?”

“Slow down. It wasn’t like that.” I sighed. “It’s a long story and — ”

“Well, we’re not busy right now. Talk.”

I hesitated for a beat. Afraid of judgment. But I told her because I needed to tell someone. If I didn’t get it out, it would choke me.

"Why didn't you call the police that night?" Margot asked.

I didn't answer right away.

“I couldn't let go." I pressed my palms flat against my desk. "I just… I couldn’t let go."

"Oh, honey." She pulled me into a hug. I didn't know when I started crying. All I knew was that Margot’s shoulder was wet at some point.

She held me for a long time. Then she pulled back and held my face.

"You know how it looks," she said.

I nodded.

"You need to stop carrying everything alone, Thea. It's going to break you."

I nodded again, but I didn't know when that would ever be true.

A week later, and there was still no news about Lena.

I didn't know whether the DNA results came back. I didn't know if Declan had the baby. I didn't know anything because I had no legal standing, and no one was required to tell me a single thing.

Nina called. I watched the phone ring and let it go to voicemail. She called again an hour later. Voicemail again. My mother called that evening, and I could see the notification light blinking from my nightstand. I just ignored it.

Margot texted.

Margot

I'm coming over. You shouldn't be alone.

Thea

Don't worry. I'm fine.

Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.

Margot

Call me if you need me.

I put the phone face down on the nightstand. I went to bed. Sleep didn’t come instantly. My mind idled for hours, circling around the last few months.

My life was usually boring. That was why I lived vicariously through trashy reality TV. All of a sudden, I became a literal magnet for drama. And then, if that wasn’t enough…