Chapter 5 - The Woman They Were Creating
Leah did not confront them.
That surprised even her.
A week earlier, she would have.
She would have demanded explanations.
She would have cried.
She would have begged Nathan to choose her.
Now she understood that every emotional reaction could become another sentence in her chart.
So she stayed quiet.
She saved the recording.
Then she emailed a copy to herself.
She sent another copy to Simone.
Simone listened through headphones.
When she finished, all humor disappeared from her face.
“You need a lawyer.”
“I need to get out of here.”
“You just had surgery.”
“I can recover somewhere else.”
Simone shook her head.
“If they’ve already started building a record, leaving against medical advice could help them.”
Leah hated that Simone was probably right.
At seven, Nathan returned with breakfast.
He kissed Leah’s forehead.
She almost recoiled.
Instead, she smiled.
“Thank you.”
He looked relieved.
“How do you feel?”
“Tired.”
“Any strange thoughts?”
Leah stared at him.
“What kind of strange thoughts?”
He shifted.
“You know.”
“No.”
“Fear.”
“I just had surgery.”
“About Caleb.”
Leah deliberately looked toward the baby.
“He’s beautiful.”
Nathan watched her carefully.
The evaluation in his eyes hurt more than anger would have.
“Do you ever think someone might take him?”
There it was.
A trap.
Leah forced herself to shrug.
“Why would they?”
Nathan relaxed.
“I don’t know.”
He leaned over Caleb.
“I’m just checking.”
Leah smiled at him.
Then she whispered.
“You’re such a good husband.”
Nathan looked ashamed.
That gave her hope.
Not because she trusted him.
Because shame meant there was still something inside him capable of breaking.
At ten, Dr. Rusk arrived with a psychiatrist.
Dr. Elias Vale introduced himself politely.
“I’ve been asked to speak with you.”
“By whom?”
“Your husband requested a postpartum evaluation.”
Leah looked at Nathan.
He would not meet her eyes.
Dr. Vale asked whether she knew where she was.
What day it was.
Whether she heard voices.
Whether she wanted to hurt herself.
Whether she wanted to hurt Caleb.
Leah answered calmly.
“No.”
“No.”
“No.”
Then she asked him a question.
“Were you told I signed a psychiatric consultation form?”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t.”
Dr. Vale paused.
Leah showed him the photograph of the forged signature.
Then she played part of the nighttime recording.
His face changed.
When it ended, he stood.
“I’m stopping this evaluation until I understand how it was ordered.”
Nathan went pale.
Dr. Rusk stepped toward him.
“Elias—”
“No.”
Dr. Vale looked directly at her.
“I will not participate in a coercive psychiatric hold.”
Doreen entered behind him.
“You’re misunderstanding the situation.”
Dr. Vale turned.
“No, Mrs. Carver.”
His voice hardened.
“I think I’m finally understanding it.”
Then an alarm sounded from the newborn security system.
Mae appeared at the door.
May you like
Her face was white.
“Someone just entered an unauthorized transfer order for Caleb.”
