My daughter had gone to the bathroom, and I had taken that moment to talk to Michelle.
"Yes, my love. She had some things to do. Are you unsure about anything? We can call her back."
She shakes her head immediately.
"No, with what she explained, everything is clear. Mommy is the best at doing homework, don't you think?"
I can see that now that Michelle is not always around, Candace has begun to see her in a different way, with an appreciation she didn't show before.
"Yes, I think she is."
An uncomfortable silence falls between us. Candace looks up, and her little eyes begin to well up with tears.
"I was unkind to her, daddy. I made her cry sometimes. Am I going to be punished for being like that to her?"
I don't know what to tell her. If that were the case, I would deserve an even
