Chapter 7 - THE SCHOOL OFFICE
I was already moving before the secretary finished speaking.
“Do not release her.”
“Mrs. Mercer, he is her father.”
“I understand.”
I grabbed my purse.
“But there is an active financial-fraud investigation and a family dispute involving threats about custody.”
Rebecca was beside me.
“Tell them you are coming with counsel.”
I repeated it.
The secretary agreed to keep Skylar in the administrative office until we arrived.
Nathan drove.
Twenty-two minutes later, we pulled into the school parking lot.
Brandon was standing outside the office with Gertrude.
Of course she was there.
Gertrude wore cream slacks, pearl earrings, and the expression of a woman attending a charity luncheon instead of trying to take my child without warning.
When she saw me, she smiled.
“Charlotte.”
I ignored her.
Brandon stepped in front of the door.
“Skylar is coming home.”
“No.”
“I’m her father.”
“And I’m her mother.”
“We have equal rights.”
Rebecca stepped forward.
“And until a court says otherwise, neither parent gets to use a child as leverage in a financial dispute.”
Brandon looked at her.
“I’m not talking to you.”
“You should.”
Gertrude finally dropped the pleasant tone.
“You’ve humiliated this family enough.”
I turned toward her.
“My daughter ate instant soup alone while you spent hundreds of dollars of my money on seafood.”
“She had already eaten.”
“She was hungry.”
“She is manipulative, just like you.”
Nathan made a disgusted sound behind me.
Gertrude noticed him.
Her face changed.
“You.”
Nathan stepped forward.
“Yes.”
“I suppose Charlotte has poisoned you too.”
“No.”
He held up his phone.
“You did that yourself.”
For the first time, Gertrude looked uncertain.
The school principal came outside.
Skylar stood behind her.
The moment she saw me, she ran.
“Mom.”
I caught her against my chest.
Brandon immediately said, “Sky, we’re going home.”
She stiffened.
I felt it.
Her fingers grabbed the back of my jacket.
“No.”
Brandon blinked.
“What?”
“I want to stay with Mom.”
Gertrude’s mouth tightened.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
Skylar buried her face against me.
Gertrude took one step forward.
“Your mother is creating drama because she doesn’t understand family responsibilities.”
I turned so my body was between them.
“Do not speak to her.”
Gertrude stared at me.
Then something astonishing happened.
Skylar lifted her head.
“Grandma, why did you tell me Mom was going away?”
Everyone froze.
Gertrude’s expression flickered.
Only for a second.
But Rebecca saw it.
Nathan saw it.
I saw it.
Brandon looked at his mother.
“What is she talking about?”
Skylar’s voice shook.
“You said after the house papers were done, Mom would have to leave.”
Brandon went pale.
Gertrude recovered quickly.
“Children misunderstand adult conversations.”
But Skylar wasn’t finished.
“You said Dad would get the house because you had proof Mom was crazy.”
The silence that followed felt enormous.
Brandon slowly turned toward Gertrude.
“Mom?”
She hissed, “Not here.”
But it was too late.
My daughter had just revealed something Brandon apparently hadn’t known.
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Gertrude wasn’t planning to save her son.
She was planning to control him too.
