Chapter 10 - The Cousins’ Whispers text
Grace started having trouble at school.
Her teacher called me one afternoon.
“Grace has been very quiet lately,” she said. “And during recess, I noticed she’s been sitting alone more than usual. When I asked her if everything was okay, she said she didn’t want to talk about it.”
I thanked the teacher and promised to check in with Grace.
That evening, while we were eating dinner, I asked her gently.
“Baby, is something happening at school?”
Grace pushed her food around her plate.
“Lucas and Chloe told some kids what happened at Grandma’s house,” she said quietly. “They said I got in trouble because I was bad. Now some of the other kids are saying I’m weird and that I lie about things.”
My chest tightened.
“Did they say anything else?”
Grace nodded. “They said Aunt Lauren is nice and I’m just dramatic like you.”
I put my fork down.
“Grace, look at me.”
She lifted her eyes.
“You are not dramatic. And you are not a liar. What happened was real. And it was wrong. Do you believe me?”
She hesitated, then nodded.
But I could see the doubt in her eyes.
That night, I added another note to my document.
The damage wasn’t staying inside the family anymore.
May you like
It was spreading to Grace’s world at school.
And that made everything more urgent.
