After adopting Jennifer, who is four years old, I was shocked when she told me in a whisper, “Mommy, don’t trust Daddy.” Her words made me feel cold, and I couldn’t get rid of the thought that something wasn’t right.
I was thinking about what my husband, Richard, might be hiding as I looked into Jennifer’s big, watchful eyes. After years of trying, we were finally able to bring Jennifer home. To find the truth, on the other hand, was a scary job.
Richard loved Jennifer so much and tried to make her feel at home. He seemed like the perfect dad. But as the days went by, I saw that Jennifer was afraid of him and always stuck close to me. I tried to brush it off as just getting used to things, but Jennifer’s words kept playing over and over in my head.
I heard Richard on the phone one day while I was making dinner. His voice was low and stressed. His words made me think of Jennifer and how hard it was to keep things “under wraps.” I was scared and wondered what he was hiding.
When we got home from dinner that night, I told Richard what I had heard. At first, he looked shocked, but then he smiled in a foolish way. He told me that he didn’t want me to know that he was planning a surprise party for Jennifer’s birthday.
A wave of relief went through me, but I also felt bad that I had doubts about Richard. When we were done, Jennifer’s words had been a reflection of her fears and how she was adjusting to living with our family. But when I saw Richard, I knew I needed to keep a closer eye on him, for both Jennifer and myself.
It got better and better as the days went by between Richard and Jennifer. The more she talked to him, the more she started to trust him. But I knew I had to watch out for our little family to make sure they were safe and happy. I knew I would do anything to protect Jennifer, no matter what lies were hidden.
