Chapter 8 — Comforting the Accused
Caleb gently pulled Chloe back into his arms.
The little girl leaned her head against his shoulder.
Her breathing slowly returned to a steady rhythm.
She stopped crying as she realized her father truly believed her.
Caleb rested his cheek against the top of her head.
He whispered gentle reassurances into her hair.
“You didn’t do anything wrong, sweetheart,” he murmured.
“I know you were being careful.”
Chloe nodded quietly against his shirt.
She gripped the fabric of his sleeve with her small fingers.
The warmth and safety of his embrace pushed the lingering fright away.
Physical affection and validation replaced the tension of the wrongful accusation.
The puddle of orange juice still glistened on the kitchen tiles nearby.
The broken glass fragments remained scattered by the baseboard.
The reality of how unfairly Chloe had been treated hung heavily in the air.
Abigail shifted her weight awkwardly on the tile floor.
She stood frozen near the kitchen island.
Her hands moved nervously as she struggled to find the right words of apology.