Chapter 11 - THE CAR SEAT
Lucas locked the nursery door.
“Call 911,” he whispered.
Hannah already had the phone in her hand.
Downstairs, Evelyn moved through the kitchen like she belonged there.
She opened a cabinet.
Then another.
Lucas watched through the security app.
The empty car seat sat on the floor beside her.
“What is she doing?” Hannah asked.
Lucas didn’t answer.
Evelyn walked toward the stairs.
Lucas stepped into the hallway and shut the nursery door behind him.
“Mom.”
Evelyn stopped halfway up.
Her face softened.
“Lucas, thank God.”
“Don’t move.”
“I came because I’m worried.”
“You broke into my house.”
“I used my key.”
“A key I told you to return.”
She looked past him toward the nursery.
“Is Sophie okay?”
“Why did you bring a car seat?”
Evelyn’s mouth tightened.
“I thought Hannah might need rest.”
Lucas almost couldn’t believe the sentence.
“You came here after midnight to take my daughter?”
“Lower your voice.”
“No.”
“Lucas, that woman is poisoning you against your family.”
“That woman is my wife.”
“I am your mother.”
“And you attacked her.”
“I stopped her from making a terrible mistake.”
“You drugged her.”
“I helped her sleep.”
“You forged her signature.”
Evelyn’s eyes flashed.
“You have no idea what I sacrificed to keep this family together after your father died.”
Police sirens approached outside.
Evelyn heard them.
Her face changed.
She turned and ran downstairs.
Lucas followed only far enough to keep her in sight.
Officers entered through the front door and stopped her near the kitchen.
As Reyes handcuffed her, another officer opened the diaper bag beside the car seat.
Inside were baby clothes, formula, cash, copies of Sophie’s birth certificate, and a printed hotel reservation in Flagstaff.
Then Reyes found a sealed envelope.
May you like
On the front, Evelyn had written:
For Lucas, after he understands.
