Chapter 2 - THREE TAPS
Claire returned the next morning.
Noah was awake before sunrise.
Vanessa rarely came to the west wing before eight.
Claire entered quietly.
She placed a glass of water beside him.
Noah looked toward the shelf.
The book.
Claire understood.
She brought it down.
This time, she did not ask questions aloud.
She sat beside him.
“If yes means one tap, tap once.”
Noah stared at her.
Then tapped the wheelchair arm once.
Claire’s heart started pounding.
“If no means two taps, tap twice.”
Tap.
Tap.
She swallowed.
“Does Vanessa scare you?”
One tap.
“Did the wheelchair move by accident?”
Two taps.
Claire felt sick.
“Did someone make it move?”
One tap.
She almost stopped.
Instead she continued.
“Was it Vanessa?”
Noah stared at her for several seconds.
Then tapped once.
Claire closed her eyes.
There it was.
Not enough for police.
Not enough for Grant.
But enough for Claire.
She opened the picture book.
“Can you show me what happened?”
Noah turned pages until he found the cliff again.
He moved his finger behind the rabbit.
Then pushed it forward.
Claire’s throat tightened.
“She pushed your chair.”
One tap.
Footsteps sounded.
Claire immediately stood.
The door opened.
Not Vanessa.
A woman wearing blue therapy scrubs entered.
Emily Cole.
Noah’s physical therapist.
She looked surprised to see Claire.
“You’re here early.”
“I was changing the water.”
Emily smiled.
Then looked at Noah.
The smile faded.
“What happened to your wrist?”
Claire turned.
A faint purple mark circled Noah’s left wrist.
Like fingers.
Emily bent closer.
“Noah?”
His body stiffened.
Emily looked toward Claire.
“Was that there yesterday?”
“I don’t know.”
“I didn’t see it.”
Emily took out her phone.
Then hesitated.
She put it away.
Claire noticed.
“Shouldn’t you document it?”
Emily looked uncomfortable.
“Vanessa doesn’t like staff photographing Noah.”
“Why?”
“Privacy.”
The answer came too quickly.
Emily began therapy.
She moved Noah’s legs gently.
He winced.
“Pain?”
No answer.
Emily checked his left knee.
Then right.
No swelling.
She whispered.
“He’s weaker.”
Claire heard her.
“What?”
Emily looked toward the door.
“Nothing.”
“No.”
“You said he’s weaker.”
Emily sighed.
“He’s lost muscle tone.”
“Why?”
“Canceled sessions.”
“Who cancels them?”
Emily did not answer.
She did not have to.
Vanessa.
Claire asked.
“Does Grant know?”
Emily lowered her voice.
“I send reports.”
“What do they say?”
“What I’m told to write.”
Claire stared.
Emily immediately regretted saying it.
“What does that mean?”
Before she could answer, Vanessa entered.
“Therapy is canceled today.”
Emily froze.
“Again?”
Vanessa smiled.
“He didn’t sleep well.”
“He needs consistency.”
“I am his mother.”
The room went quiet.
Vanessa corrected herself.
“Stepmother.”
Then she smiled at Claire.
“Don’t you have floors to clean?”
Claire left.
But from the hallway, she heard Emily say.
“If these sessions keep getting canceled, Grant needs to know.”
May you like
Vanessa’s voice turned cold.
“Grant knows exactly what I tell him.”
