Chapter 12 - THE LETTER
The letter was written as if I had already disappeared.
Dear Hannah.
I hope someday you understand that this decision was made to protect Lily.
The language sounded compassionate.
That made it worse.
Ethan described imagined episodes.
My supposed refusal to seek treatment.
My supposed paranoia about his family.
My supposed decision to abandon the home.
Near the end, he wrote that he hoped I would get better enough to see Lily under supervision.
It was not a letter.
It was a script.
And they had expected me to perform it.
Rebecca submitted it to the court.
Ethan’s attorneys asked for a settlement conference within twenty-four hours.
“They’re scared.”
Rebecca said.
“What are they offering?”
“Full custody to you.”
I stared at her.
“What do they want?”
“You stop cooperating with criminal investigators regarding the forged document and illegal recordings.”
I laughed.
“No.”
“They’ll also restore the missing account funds.”
“No.”
“And Ethan agrees not to pursue the trust.”
“No.”
Rebecca gave a small nod.
“I knew that would be your answer.”
The settlement offer expired.
The next morning, Ethan called.
I answered because the call was being recorded through counsel.
“Hannah.”
“What do you want?”
“My lawyers said you refused.”
“Yes.”
“You can have Lily.”
“She isn’t property you give me.”
“You know what I mean.”
“No.”
He breathed hard.
“My mother is going to prison if you keep going.”
“That depends on what she did.”
“She’s sixty-seven.”
“She hit a six-year-old.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.”
“I know.”
“You can end this.”
“So could you have.”
Silence.
Then his voice changed.
“You think my mother invented all of it?”
I said nothing.
He continued.
“She didn’t.”
“What does that mean?”
“There were people before Dr. Vale.”
My pulse accelerated.
“Who?”
“I can’t say over the phone.”
“Then tell your lawyer.”
“He doesn’t know.”
That caught my attention.
“What are you talking about?”
Ethan whispered.
“My mother didn’t start this nine months ago.”
My grip tightened around the phone.
“When did she start?”
May you like
He answered.
“Before Lily was born.”
