Chapter 15 - THREE YEARS OF SILENCE
Samuel admitted he never opened Margaret’s letter because he trusted Cynthia’s claim that it was extortion. Margaret stared at him. “You could have checked.” “Yes.”
Margaret laughed once.
Then cried.
It was the ugliest pattern in the case.
Sophie entered a protected transition plan.
Margaret remained in private medical care.
Alexander visited only when invited.
Some days she wanted him.
Some days she did not.
He learned not to treat inconsistency as rejection.
Then one afternoon, Margaret asked Lily to visit.
My daughter brought a drawing.
It showed two women with big round bellies.
One had a pillow.
One had a baby.
Margaret laughed.
“Which one is me?”
Lily pointed to the baby.
“Obviously.”
Then she added a third small girl beside them.
“Sophie.”
Margaret’s smile faded.
“You know about her?”
“Mom said she needs time.”
Margaret looked at me.
Good.
She understood.
Lily colored quietly, then asked:
“Are you Alexander’s wife?”
Margaret paused.
“Legally, I was. Then everyone thought I died.”
“Are you again?”
“No.”
“Do you want to be?”
Margaret looked toward the window.
“I don’t know.”
Lily nodded.
“Okay.”
No pressure.
Then a nurse entered with urgent news.
Margaret was having contractions.
May you like
Six weeks early.
The baby was coming.
