Chapter 7 - The Photograph Nobody Asked About
"Why was she crying?" I asked Daniel, holding up the photo.
"Mom said Evie got scared when a bee landed near her."
"Evie is terrified of bees. She would have told me."
The social worker didn't accuse me. She asked questions. I answered every one and gave her the hospital timeline, Lena's statement, and the detective's number. Still, the idea of strangers deciding whether I was a good mother felt like someone had opened a trapdoor under my feet.
When Evie woke, I sat beside her and showed her the picture.
"Do you remember this day?"
She frowned. "Grandma said we were playing a grown-up game."
"What kind of game?"
"She told me to cry by the pool. She said if I did it right, she'd buy me the purple bike."
I couldn't speak for a moment.
"Did you get the bike?" Daniel asked.
Evie shook her head. "She said the picture wasn't good enough."
Daniel put his hand over his mouth.
I kept my voice soft. "Honey, did Grandma ever ask you to pretend something happened when it didn't?"
"Just little things. Like I was scared, or you forgot me."
"Did she tell you why?"
"She said adults only listen when they see proof."
I looked at Daniel. His face was wet.
At home that night, he called Margaret and put the phone on speaker.
"Did you make Evie cry for a picture?" he asked.
"Don't be ridiculous. She gets emotional."
"Answer me."
Margaret's voice hardened. "You always were too weak to do what's necessary."
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Then, from the hospital bed, Evie spoke so quietly we almost missed it.
"Grandma said she was going to save me in front of everybody," she whispered. "But she didn't come."
