Chapter 3: Breaking the Silence
That evening Daniel took the girls home himself.
No meetings.
No phone calls.
No assistants.
Only four dinner plates around the kitchen table.
For the first time since Clara's funeral, he learned basic sign language from his daughters instead of expecting them to adapt to everyone else.
The middle triplet signed carefully.
Daddy staying?
Daniel smiled through tears.
Always.
The smallest girl hesitated before reaching into her pocket.
She removed another folded napkin.
This one had been hidden for months.
It contained a drawing.
Five stick figures.
Mom.
Dad.
Three little girls.
Holding hands.
Daniel could no longer hide his tears.
He gathered all three daughters into his arms.
"I should have listened sooner."
The oldest girl touched his cheek.
Then, for the first time in eight months...
A tiny whisper escaped her lips.
May you like
"Daddy."
The single word echoed louder than any speech Daniel had ever given.
