Chapter 16 - Choosing Whose Side
Daniel didn't tell me what Linda said. He forwarded the voicemail to Camille.
"If you speak against me," Linda's voice warned, "don't expect me to forgive you. I gave you everything."
At the hearing, Linda wore a pale blue jacket and carried tissues. She told the court she had merely been trying to help an anxious daughter-in-law. She called the chair incident a misunderstanding. She said the hospital papers were an innocent attempt to organize the birth.
Then Mrs. Ellis described exactly where Linda had stood and what her hands had done. The clinic's preserved footage supported her account. Camille presented the message Linda had left for Daniel after the fall. I explained the key, the camera, the papers I hadn't signed, and the visit to Nora's building.
When Daniel was asked whether he'd seen his mother pull the chair, he looked toward me first.
"Yes," he said clearly. "I saw her do it."
Linda's head turned sharply.
"Did Emily ask you to deliver the clinic documents?" he was asked.
"No."
"Did you tell her those documents included a signature that wasn't hers?"
"No. I didn't check what my mother added. I should have."
The court continued restrictions on Linda's contact while the separate reports were reviewed. Camille explained what the order covered and what to do if Linda ignored it. I listened closely. This wasn't a spell that made everything safe. It was one practical step among several.
Outside, Linda passed me without looking my way. Daniel watched her go and didn't follow.
"Emily," he said, "I know I broke your trust."
"You did."
"Can I earn it back?"
"I don't know. And you don't get to rush me."
He nodded.
Over the next three weeks, I stayed at Nora's, attended every appointment, and practiced saying what I wanted without explaining it three times. At thirty-eight weeks, Dr. Patel said our daughter was growing well.
That night, just after two, a warm rush soaked the sheets.
May you like
I looked at Nora in the doorway.
"I think my water just broke."
