After my husband threw me to the floor and broke my leg, my four-year-old daughter used our secret signal and called grandpa for help.

she whispered. Mommy looks like she’s going to die! There was a very bad accident!

For the first time in three years, David looked genuinely frightened.

Then the speaker crackled.

And my father’s voice came through.

Calm.

Clear.

Dangerously calm.

“Emma, sweetheart, is your mother awake?”

“Yes.”

“Good girl. Put the phone near Mommy.”

Emma obeyed.

I heard my father continue reading …