He left us almost a year ago for a woman from his office and completely disappeared\u2014no calls, no support. Every night my five-year-old, Lily, asked when Daddy would come back. I lied to comfort her.<\/p>\n
Then last week he called, apologized, said he\u2019d changed and asked to take Lily for the weekend. Torn but thinking of her, I agreed. He sent photos of them smiling, and I allowed myself to hope.<\/p>\n
Sunday came and went. He didn\u2019t return her. My sister called in a panic\u2014she\u2019d seen him with that woman at the county clerk\u2019s office. They were signing papers. He was filing for full custody, using his weekend with Lily as evidence. He wasn\u2019t reconnecting\u2014he was trying to take her and give her to that woman. What I thought was his return was a lie, and in hoping for Lily\u2019s happiness, I\u2019d given him what he needed to try to take her.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"