Take Her and Run

After cutting the birth mother out of the girls lives, the father develops a relationship with a woman who falls in love with the two little girls. She has a special place in her heart for the one with special needs. Behaviors lead Veronica to suspect molestation, but for a long time, there is no evidence. Eventually, history comes to light, and after denials and confrontations, the family breaks up. The girls are first left with Veronica, but eventually, the father gains back custody of one and then both girls. When actual evidence of molestation presents itself, it is reported, but the father retains custody and cuts the only mom they know out of both girls lives. In this story, an opportunity arises for Veronica to kidnap the girl with developmental delay. She takes this opportunity to run and hide, making the long drive to the East Coast where she knows absolutely no one. Veronica disguises Dani as a boy, colors and perms her hair, gathers her pets, and sets out on a road trip to remember. The journey to the East Coast is overall a happy time but always with an underlying fear of exposure.