Chapter 1: In the early morning hours, the protagonist is jolted awake by the unsettling sensation of something crawling on his skin. His eyes snap open to reveal the presence of multiple spiders on his bed, a sight that sends a wave of discomfort through him. Despite the initial shock, he reluctantly switches on the bedside lamp, hoping to identify the creatures. As he observes the spiders on his pillow and bedside table, he methodically squashes them, yet the feeling of unease lingers. The sight of them, combined with his growing sense of dread, only intensifies the restlessness he’s been experiencing. He tries to brush off the discomfort, but his mind refuses to settle, filled with worries that he cannot shake off. Among the myriad of concerns racing through his head, he is most troubled by his daughter Maggie’s recent behavior and the unsettling developments involving her friend Dawn’s uncle. Additionally, a troubling photo of Dawn has surfaced, further complicating the situation. These haunting thoughts plague him, creating a whirlwind of anxiety that seems impossible to escape.

The protagonist’s mind drifts backward, revisiting memories of past moments that have shaped his relationship with Maggie. He reflects on the times when he placed unnecessary pressure on her, focusing on trivial matters such as her table manners and academic success. Despite his best intentions, he now realizes that these demands may have created more harm than good. One memory that stands out is when Maggie, at seventeen, asked him for help purchasing a vegan suede jacket she had set her sights on. The jacket was an expensive item, priced at $350, and the protagonist initially resisted, believing it to be a wasteful purchase. However, despite his doubts, he eventually relented, swayed by his desire to make his daughter happy and to show her that he cared. Using his credit card, he ordered the jacket, but his skepticism about the purchase remained. He couldn’t shake the feeling that it was more of a gimmick than a true necessity, yet he still wanted to support her decision.

The jacket was supposed to arrive by mail, but when it did, it had mysteriously disappeared from their porch. The protagonist suspects that it was stolen by a porch pirate, an issue he had heard about but never expected to experience himself. He contacted the online retailer immediately, explaining what had happened, and they agreed to send a replacement jacket. When the replacement arrived, Maggie was thrilled. However, weeks later, the protagonist learned that Maggie’s friend Priya had bought the extra jacket Maggie had received by mistake. This revelation shocked him to his core, as he realized that Maggie had kept the jacket despite the circumstances. When he confronted her, her lack of remorse and her casual dismissal of the seriousness of the situation added to his disappointment. The conversation quickly escalated into an argument, with Maggie offering a series of excuses to justify her actions. Frustrated, the protagonist threatened to report her to the police, a threat he knew he wouldn’t follow through on, but it left a deep emotional wound between them. Eventually, Maggie was made to donate the jacket to Goodwill, an act that left her fuming with resentment. This incident marked a turning point in their relationship, and the protagonist began to see the cracks in the foundation of their bond.

Now, as he lies awake, the protagonist realizes the full impact of his past choices. He understands that his actions, although well-meaning, may have contributed to the rift between him and his daughter. He has spent years trying to control her decisions and behavior, not realizing that his efforts were pushing her further away. The complexities of their relationship have become increasingly apparent, and the protagonist is left grappling with the consequences of his past mistakes. As he reflects on his parenting, he sees the need to approach the situation with more understanding and less pressure. However, the growing tension surrounding Maggie’s interactions with Gwendolyn and Brody Taggart complicates matters further. The protagonist is unsure how to move forward but is determined to fix the fractured relationship with his daughter, even though the path is unclear. His mind races, filled with the weight of the unresolved issues, and he lies awake, wondering how he can find a way to heal the growing divide between them. The internal struggle he faces speaks to the complexities of fatherhood, love, and the realization that mistakes made in the past can have lasting consequences.