Chapter 5 - They Had Already Written the Story
Nina enlarged the photograph until the letters broke into pixels.
"Emergency guardianship over who?" I asked.
"We don't know yet."
Sophia stood abruptly. "I do."
She opened her email and searched Ingrid's name.
Three weeks earlier, Ingrid had sent her a message titled POST-BIRTH SUPPORT.
Buried beneath harmless language about meals and recovery was a line Sophia had ignored.
If emotional instability interferes with maternal judgment, temporary family guardianship may be recommended.
"They were planning to call me unstable," Sophia said.
Nina's jaw tightened.
"And your forged consent makes Evelyn look like she agreed to receive the child."
I thought about Ingrid laughing over cake.
We'll make her raise the baby.
Not a joke.
A plan.
I drove home with Nina following me.
Lukas opened the door before I reached it.
"Where have you been?"
"Coffee."
"With who?"
"Why?"
His eyes flicked toward Nina's car.
He lowered his voice. "My mother thinks you're having some kind of episode."
There it was.
The word had already started.
Inside, Ingrid sat at my table like a queen hearing petitions.
Peter Voller closed the blue folder when I entered.
"Evelyn," he said, "we're worried about you."
I almost laughed.
"How kind."
Ingrid smiled. "Sit down."
"No."
Lukas stepped closer. "Don't be difficult."
I looked at the folder.
"Is that my medical file?"
Nobody answered.
That was answer enough.
Peter stood. "These are private family matters."
"My medical records are private family matters?"
His face changed.
For the first time, he realized I knew more than they expected.
Then Ingrid switched to German.
"Get her phone before she records anything."
I answered in German.
"Touch my phone and I'll call the police."
The room went dead silent.
Lukas stared at me.
"You speak German?"
May you like
I smiled.
"Enough to know what you planned to do with Sophia's baby."
