Life as a single dad hasn’t been easy, especially since Chloe’s mom left. But meeting Lily gave me hope. She was kind, caring, and wonderful with my four-year-old daughter. That’s why I decided to bring Chloe along for a visit to Lily’s house.
Everything seemed fine at first. Chloe was excited, and Lily even offered to play a game with her while I helped in the kitchen. But then Chloe came back, her face pale and her voice barely above a whisper. “Daddy, we need to leave,” she said. “There are heads in her closet. Real heads.”
I didn’t hesitate. I grabbed Chloe and left immediately. After dropping her off at my mom’s, I went back to Lily’s place, my heart pounding as I opened the closet door. To my surprise, I found four rubber Halloween masks hanging inside.
Relief flooded through me, but I also felt guilty for doubting Lily. When she asked why I’d gone through her closet, I explained, “I had to be sure.” Chloe’s fear had been genuine, even if it was based on a misunderstanding. Now, I had to find a way to explain it to her.
