Mia finished her year at Santa Monica College with a 4.0 average and was accepted into several universities. Suffice it to say, her application essay was unique. She went on to graduate from one of our nation’s most prestigious universities in December 2004, with a major in English and minors in both French and Culture & Politics. While there, she tutored inner city kids in reading and interned at both the Smithsonian Institute and National Geographic magazine. She now works in publishing and continues to write.
Claire spent a few years assisting other parents as one of the note-takers at the back table in seminars. She continues to write and travel, returning often to France.
Cameron and Chaffin continue to dedicate their lives to reparenting our kids.
Mike is still birthing calves and teenagers.
Sunny is getting her degree in, what else, botany. Roxanne is pursuing her master’s in Chinese medicine. Sasha’s embarked on a successful career in home furnishing sales and design.
The girls who comprised the composite characters of Brooke, Katrina, Lupe, and Samantha went on to become artists, graduate students, and happily married mothers.
Glenn and Steve Roach returned to the United States and were cleared of all charges. Peter and Zuza were cleared as well and went on to find work in other fields. A year after he shut down Morava, Karel was sentenced to ten years in prison for planting evidence in another case.
Debbie Norum followed Lou and became a seminar facilitator. John Dean hasn’t scowled once since he left Focus. Aging Barbie threw out her bathroom scale, left her corporate career, and is now a successful life coach known as Deana Riley.
Karin Anderson made a few more declarations—to sail around Madagascar, find a husband online, then write a book about telling other women how to do it. She did all three.
Although this journey was often dark and difficult, it was also filled with blessings, often with miracles. Countless people—social workers, police officers, teachers, family, friends, strangers—were in the right place at the right time. My brother turning that corner at that moment, a Utah state trooper at that exact stretch of the I-15 that night. All of you played a critical role and we are so very grateful. Without you, this story might have turned out very differently.
WE ARE DEEPLY INDEBTED TO:
Judith Regan for letting us tell our story. Our editor, Cassie Jones, for her brilliance, patience, delightful sense of humor, and for being available for nearly anything, anytime. Tammi Guthrie and Sabrina Faludi for their kind assistance, diligence, and insightful suggestions. Kyran Cassidy, for his meticulous care and wise counsel. Our talented and dedicated publicists, Noelle Murrain and Chase Bodine, and the entire staff at HarperCollins, our heartfelt thanks for all your efforts.
The Harper Perennial team, for their talent, support, and enthusiasm: Carrie Kania, Jennifer Hart, Cal Morgan, Amy Baker, Mick Castagna, Alberto Rojas, Stephanie Selah, and Mara Lander.
Our agent, Stacey Glick, for her belief in our book and tireless efforts on our behalf. Jane Dystel and Miriam Goderich, for their knowledge and sound judgment.
Rachel Brenner at HarperCollins and the talented and dedicated literary team at Target, for selecting Come Back as a Bookmarked Club Pick.
Our legal crusaders, would that all children had you in their corner. Salome, Julio, and Henry, who helped us to know laughter again. Mia’s therapists, “Ella” and “Colleen,” for caring so deeply.
Chaffin Pullan, Cameron Pullan, and Glenn Roach, for having the courage to do it differently and for creating a world where kids can return to themselves. Kim Sparks, for your wisdom and generous spirit. “Mr. Greg” and the entire staff at Spring Creek Lodge for your hard work and support. Charlie Denson, for technical wizardry. Dallas Wilder and John Bundy, for your dedication and compassion.
Mike Linderman, the Teen Whisperer, for your gift.
“Zuza” and “Peter,” for your devotion and courage; you maintained your dignity and integrity through everything. The Czech staff at the former Morava Academy, in particular, “Dusana” and “Olga.”
Mike, Elaine, and Jonathan Broida, for your love, advice, and support.
Cally, wise soul, gentle spirit, storybook Grandma. Richard, for giving Paul a blueprint for being a great father.
PROTECT, our nation’s first lobby dedicated solely to fighting child abuse, for their courage and vision. We urge readers to become members (PROTECT.org) and, for the first time in history, give our children—our most precious resource—the same clout in Washington we give whales, guns, and clean air.
Darkness to Light (d2l.org) and Childhelp for their efforts to prevent child sexual abuse.
Samantha Dunne, Patti Felker, Linda Gornick, Leah Komaiko, Michele Kort, Joan Jaffe, Gina Robbins, for your support and generosity.
Claire would like to thank:
Nancy Marsden and Karin Anderson, because one can never have enough sisters. Jordana Glick-Franzheim, and Cristina Colissimo, for friendship, France, and everything in between. Susan Oldfield and Erin Martin, for your friendship and kindness. Susan Franzheim, a mountain worth climbing.
The inimitable Christine Witebsky, I thank you for my daughter.
Paul Nagel, for being the kind of teacher who changes lives. I’m sure you didn’t think being my adviser would become a lifetime job. And Marge Nagel, for your wit and wise words. Your encouragement, care, and keen editing skills have been invaluable. I love you both.
Susan Forward, PhD, for your treasured friendship and for having the courage to write Betrayal of Innocence: Incest and Its Devastation before the media would touch the subject. Wendy Forward, for your spark and your smarts. Your mother-daughter relationship has been an inspiration.
David Gilcrease, Duane Smotherman, Lou Dozier, Jan Presley, and all the folks at Resource Realizations, Inc. Wendy Greene, laser sharp and loving. Mike Lollich, for one of my biggest lightbulb moments. Link sages Dr. David Stoker and Laura Murphy. All the parents who were part of this journey, in particular Celeste, Judy, Lynn, Nancy K., and Wayne.
Trish Adams, for her commitment to healing the planet, one child at a time.
Barbara Fagan, for empowering me to write the proposal for this book. Your skills are peerless, your heart grand.
My sisters, who were there for us. My brother, for bringing Mia back to me. My father, who urged me to know that the Light Within is always on, even when we feel only darkness. It just took me thirty years to listen. My mother, for her love, her honesty, and her prophetic wisdom.
And to Paul, for everything.
Mia would like to thank:
To the man who taught me how to throw like a boy—I couldn’t have asked for a better dad. You’ve loved me as your own from the beginning and given me the priceless knowledge that when I wake up, I have not one, but two parents who love me.
Bubbie, for your quiet understanding of me, your courage, intellect, and humor. Thank you for giving me my mother.
Danielle Rose, for sharing my childhood; I love you and am deeply proud of you.
My aunts and uncles, for your love and support.
Nancy, because sometimes we need more than one mother. You’ve been there for me both whenever I asked and when you simply knew.
Karin, you’ve made enormous sacrifices generously and unhesitatingly and your humor, determination, and strength have always been an inspiration.
To all of my “Aunties,” Jordana, Cristina, Susan, Michele, and Miriam, thank you for helping to make my childhood magical.
Abel, for your boyish spirit, which buoyed me during some of the rough parts.
My college friends, Alex, Alexandria, David, Sean, Seleba, Simone, Soraya, and Yoomie. It’s been incredibly fun growing each other up.
Gerard, for seeing me through a different kind of transformation.
Lauren, for who we were and what we had. Hurting you has always been one of my biggest regrets.
My teachers at Santa Monica College, Dr. Diana Engleman, Dr. Christine Schultz, Dr. Karin Breedlove, Dr. Miguel Aparicio—for your encouragement and support.
Mike, for putting up with all the attitude and defenses, for kicking me out and loving me back in.
Cameron and Chaffin Pullan, for opening your hearts and homes and seeing through to who I really was and could be.
Sunny, for being the most faaabulous friend a girl can have.
My Morava girls, for sharing something with me that neither time nor distance can diminish. I love you all.