Chapter 13 - LILY WAS THE PROBLEM
I stared at the boarding school form.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Robert looked sick.
“I didn’t sign this.”
Mara zoomed in.
“Your signature appears authentic.”
“I didn’t sign it.”
Melissa whispered.
“Mom keeps scanned copies.”
Robert turned toward her.
She looked down.
I felt something hot rise behind my eyes.
Helen had planned to send my daughter away.
Not because Lily was dangerous.
Not because she needed school.
Because she disrupted the story.
Lily noticed things.
She questioned unfairness.
She asked why Ethan received more.
She asked why Grandma decided everything.
She asked why Dad always agreed.
Children are dangerous to controlling adults when they refuse to accept the rules as natural.
Mara opened another document.
A note from Helen.
Lily’s attachment to Claire is unhealthy.
Separation will help both.
Another.
Once Lily is away, Claire will become easier to stabilize.
I stood so quickly my chair hit the wall.
Robert looked at me.
“Claire.”
“Don’t.”
My voice shook.
“I didn’t know.”
“You knew enough.”
“I never agreed to send her away.”
“You agreed she was the problem.”
He said nothing.
I picked up the boarding school form.
“You called her dramatic.”
He closed his eyes.
“You laughed at her.”
“I know.”
“You let Helen punish her.”
“I know.”
“You used Lily’s fear as evidence against me.”
His voice broke.
“I know.”
I leaned across the table.
“No, Robert.”
I forced him to look at me.
“You know now.”
Silence.
“That is not the same as knowing when she needed you.”
He began crying.
For once, I felt nothing.
Mara carefully took the paper from my hand.
“We will add this to the custody response.”
I nodded.
Robert wiped his face.
“What happens to Mom?”
Mara answered.
“That depends on how much fraud we can prove.”
Melissa looked toward him.
“She deserves whatever happens.”
Robert flinched.
His phone rang.
HELEN.
Nobody moved.
It rang again.
Mara looked at him.
“Answer it.”
Robert frowned.
“Why?”
“Because she doesn’t know you know.”
He stared at the phone.
Then answered.
“Mom.”
Helen’s voice was loud enough for us to hear.
“Where are you?”
“At the office.”
“Did you stop Claire?”
Robert looked toward me.
“No.”
Helen swore.
“Then listen carefully.”
We all leaned closer.
“She is going to use Lily against you.”
Robert closed his eyes.
Helen continued.
“Do not let that child become the reason you lose everything.”
Robert’s face changed.
“What do you want me to do?”
Helen answered without hesitation.
“Take Ethan.”
I felt Mara reach for her recorder.
May you like
Helen continued.
“Leave the girl with Claire.”
