Caitlin turned away, but I went on.
“We know you loved Frosty. And he was crazy about you. When you left, he used to sit by the door and cry. Didn’t he, Abby?”
“He did,” she said. “He was so sad not to see you.”
“You didn’t like Frosty, did you?” Caitlin asked. She turned and directed the question at Abby.
“I liked him,” Abby said.
“You didn’t like me to walk him. You thought I was getting away from you.”
“No, honey. I worried about you, of course. That’s what moms do.”
“We can get another dog,” I said. “Or we can try to get Frosty back.”
Caitlin turned away and shrugged a little. “Whatever,” she said. “Just don’t say everything’s the same, because it isn’t. That’s bullshit.”
Abby jumped a little but kept her cool.
“Your room is the same,” Abby said, staying on message. “Maybe we need to update it a little. And clothes. The clothes you have here wouldn’t fit anymore, I guess. Do you have any clothes from . . . where you were staying?”
“No. Nothing.”
“Whenever you’re ready, we can go out and buy some things,” Abby said.
When Caitlin remained silent, Abby looked at me, helpless.
“Would you like to go up to your room? Maybe you’d like to take a nap?”
It took a long time, but finally Caitlin nodded.
We trudged upstairs, the three of us. Caitlin went and sat on her bed, while I remembered standing in that closet and feeling the piercing pain of her loss go through me like a lance.
“I bet the sheets aren’t clean,” Abby said.
“I got used to dirty sheets,” Caitlin said.
Abby sat next to Caitlin and leaned in close.
“Where was that, honey? Where were you sleeping without clean sheets?”
Caitlin didn’t answer. She stared at me.
Abby pressed on.
“If you tell us, the police can help find the man responsible. It was a man, right? An older man who did this to you?”
Caitlin’s eyes widened, expressing an urgency to me, so I spoke up.
“Why don’t we let the kid sleep, okay, Abby?”
Abby looked a little wounded, a little betrayed by my comment. But it was just a flash.
“Honey,” she said, “I know this is tough, but you can talk to your dad or me about whatever you want, whenever you want. You know that, don’t you?”
“Who’s been sleeping in the guest room?” Caitlin asked.
“Why do you ask that?” Abby asked.
“I saw the door open when we came up here, and the sheets were messed up. Did you have company?”
“Buster was here visiting,” I said.
“Really?” Caitlin perked up a little.
“Have you seen your uncle Buster?” Abby asked. “You know, since you’ve been gone.”
“Why would you want to know that?” Caitlin asked.
“Don’t worry about it,” I said. “It’s nothing.”
“We do have to be honest with you about something,” Abby said. “Dad and I . . . we’ve been having some tough times in our marriage. It happens when people have been married for a long time. We’re trying to sort it out.”
“You mean with counseling or something?” Caitlin said.
“Yes,” Abby said. “Some of that. But we’re both here for you now. We’re both going to be in the house with you and helping you any way we can. Together. Right, Tom?”
“That’s right.”
“You’re taking me to a shrink tomorrow, aren’t you?” Caitlin said.
“The police think it would be best,” Abby said. “They have things they want to talk to you about.”
Caitlin looked at me when she next spoke, her eyes locked on mine, a reminder of the promise I’d made to her at the police station. “I don’t want to go somewhere and answer a bunch of fucking questions. I’m not interested.”
“Caitlin . . .” Abby looked shocked, even hurt. “When the police ask you to do something, you have to do it. And I think it will be good for you. Don’t you, Tom?”
Caitlin held her gaze on mine, waiting for my help. But I’d promised only that I wouldn’t ask, not that I wouldn’t let a professional do it. “Right,” I said. “You should go tomorrow.”
“And I don’t think you should talk to us that way,” Abby said. “I know it’s been a long time . . .” She stood up, gathered her composure. “Do you need something to sleep in? Clean clothes or anything?”
“This is fine,” Caitlin said. She kicked her shoes off, revealing gray, dirty socks, and flipped back the covers on her bed.
“Just call us if you need anything,” Abby said on her way out.
I lingered in the doorway, watching my daughter settle into bed.
“It must be weird being back,” I said.
She didn’t respond. She turned over on her side, showing me her back, and as far as I knew, closed her eyes and went to sleep.