Chapter 12 - The First Time
Mom came to our house alone.
James stayed in the room but let me lead.
She looked ten years older than she had on Thanksgiving.
"Tell me everything," I said.
Mom twisted a tissue in her hands.
Lauren had been in debt for nearly two years.
She had borrowed from my parents, then from Martin, then used my parents' house as security for another loan Dad didn't fully understand.
When Grandma's trust became valuable, Martin told Lauren there might be a way to access funds for Emma's "care" if Lauren became guardian.
"And you helped?"
"I believed she was trying to survive."
"By taking my child?"
Mom looked down.
Then she said the sentence that changed the entire room.
"Thanksgiving wasn't the first time she hurt Emma."
My hands went cold.
James stood so fast his chair hit the wall.
"What did you say?"
Mom began sobbing.
Three months earlier, while I was at the dentist, Mom had watched Emma for two hours. Lauren stopped by.
Emma had been teething and crying.
Lauren grabbed her too roughly and shook her arm once, telling her to stop.
Mom took Emma away immediately.
When I picked her up, Mom said Emma had bumped her arm against the playpen.
I remembered the faint red mark near her elbow.
I remembered asking.
I remembered believing my mother.
"You lied to me."
"I was afraid you'd cut Lauren off."
"You were right."
James walked to the window because he was too angry to stay seated.
Mom cried harder. "I thought she would never do it again."
I stared at her.
"You didn't protect my baby. You protected your adult daughter from consequences."
Mom looked at me helplessly.
Then her phone rang.
Lauren's name appeared on the screen.
Mom answered.
Lauren was crying.
May you like
"Mom, I need you."
Then we heard a child in the background.
