Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN CELESTE SAID HAD STOPPED TRYING
Natalie disappeared from Damian’s daily life after a terrible year.
Her younger brother died in a motorcycle crash.
Three months later she lost her job as a physical therapist after the clinic downsized.
Then came panic attacks.
Insomnia.
Too much wine at night.
Arguments.
Damian remembered every one.
He also remembered the morning Natalie packed two bags and said:
“I need to get myself stable before Lucas starts thinking this is normal.”
She entered a residential treatment program in Wisconsin voluntarily.
Damian supported the decision.
For the first six weeks, they spoke through scheduled family calls.
Then something changed.
Natalie missed one call.
Then another.
Celeste—who had been Natalie’s friend before she became Damian’s—said Natalie was struggling and asked everyone to give her space.
Damian believed her.
Celeste worked as a case coordinator for a senior-living company.
She sounded practical.
Competent.
Calm.
Everything Damian was not during that period.
Then Natalie left treatment.
Damian expected contact.
Instead Celeste told him Natalie had moved into transitional housing and “wasn’t ready to be a mother again.”
Damian hated the phrase.
He also believed it.
Months passed.
Celeste began helping with Lucas.
School pickup.
Dinner.
Homework.
Storm nights when Damian worked late.
Their relationship changed gradually.
Or at least Damian had told himself it did.
Now he called the treatment center.
Privacy law prevented staff from giving him details.
But because Damian had participated in prior family sessions, one counselor could confirm a narrow fact with Natalie’s existing authorization:
Natalie had completed the residential program.
She had not disappeared from treatment.
Damian gripped the phone.
“When?”
“About nine months ago.”
Nine months.
Celeste had told him Natalie had “left suddenly.”
The counselor continued.
“Natalie requested continued family contact through an intermediary.”
Damian’s pulse jumped.
“Who?”
“I can’t disclose that without confirming the authorization.”
“Was it Celeste Harper?”
Silence.
The counselor did not answer.
She did not have to.
Damian thanked her and hung up.
He remembered something from nine months earlier.
Celeste sitting across from him at the kitchen island.
Natalie needs consistency before you let Lucas get hopeful.
Damian had said:
“I can’t put him through another goodbye.”
Celeste had touched his hand.
“Then let me handle communication until she proves she’s serious.”
Damian had agreed.
Not forever.
Not to lies.
May you like
But he had handed Celeste the gate.
Now he needed to know what she had done with it.
