Chapter 10 - DIANE'S OLD PLAYBOOK
Natalie talked for almost two hours.
She had become pregnant during her marriage to Mark.
She miscarried at eleven weeks.
Before the miscarriage, Diane had criticized her doctor, demanded access to appointments, and secretly contacted an attorney about "future grandparent rights."
"After I lost the pregnancy, she told me maybe it was God's way of saying I wasn't ready," Natalie said.
I closed my eyes.
"Did Mark defend you?"
Silence.
That was the answer.
"He begged me not to make him choose," she said. "Which is what men say when they've already chosen."
The sentence lodged in my chest.
Natalie agreed to provide a statement for Maya.
Friday morning, I walked into court wearing a navy maternity dress and the only shoes that still fit.
Diane sat beside Mark.
Of course she did.
Her attorney described me as volatile, isolated, financially dependent, and at risk for postpartum crisis.
Maya dismantled the filing piece by piece.
The wine photo.
The uncropped knife photo.
The nursery footage.
The unauthorized hospital notification.
Natalie's declaration.
Then Maya played Diane's voice from the camera:
She'll forgive you after we have temporary custody.
The judge's face hardened.
Diane's attorney requested a recess.
The judge refused.
"Mrs. Morgan," he said to me, "this court sees no basis to remove a child from a mother who has not even given birth, based on manipulated evidence. The petition is denied."
My lungs opened for the first time in days.
Then he turned to Diane.
"I am also referring these materials for review regarding possible fraud and misuse of medical information."
Diane's face stayed perfectly still.
Outside the courtroom, she approached me before security stepped between us.
"Enjoy your little victory," she said.
I stared at her.
"Stay away from me."
She smiled.
"You still have to give birth somewhere."
May you like
That evening, the hospital called.
Someone had just tried to change my scheduled induction date.
