Chapter 12 - THE NIGHT SAVANNAH LEFT
Milo's recordings brought back memories Savannah had buried.
Derek hadn't started with Milo.
Years earlier, he'd started with her.
Never with a belt.
Never hard enough to leave obvious injuries.
A shove against a doorway.
A hand around her wrist.
Blocking the stairs during arguments.
Punching the wall beside her head.
Savannah had been eighteen when she finally pushed him back.
Derek called police.
Janice told officers Savannah had become “out of control.”
No charges were filed.
But Janice gave Savannah a choice.
Apologize to Derek.
Or leave.
Savannah left.
For six years, she had carried one version of that night.
She had been difficult.
Angry.
Rebellious.
Now she understood.
Derek had removed the one person in the house most likely to protect Milo before Milo was old enough to need protecting.
Savannah confronted Janice during their next supervised meeting.
“You knew what he was like.”
Janice shook her head.
“Not then.”
“He shoved me.”
“You shoved him too.”
“He was forty years old. I was eighteen.”
Janice looked down.
“You chose him.”
“Savannah—”
“You chose him when I left.”
Tears filled Janice's eyes.
“I didn't know what else to do.”
Savannah's voice dropped.
“You could have chosen your children.”
Janice broke down.
Savannah felt the old instinct to comfort her.
She didn't.
For years, Janice's tears had ended every difficult conversation.
This time Savannah let the silence stay uncomfortable.
Finally Janice whispered:
“I thought if I kept Derek calm, everything would stay under control.”
Savannah stared at her.
That was the tragedy.
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Janice had spent years managing Derek's anger instead of stopping Derek.
And Milo had paid for the difference.
