Chapter 5
Emergency court happened while Lily was still in the hospital.
I wore jeans and one of Rachel’s sweaters.
Ryan wore a suit and a wounded expression.
Diane wore pearls.
I hated those pearls.
Nora presented the hospital report.
The bottle.
The cabinet inventory.
Lily’s statement.
Grandma gives it at night.
Ryan’s lawyer said toddlers were unreliable.
The judge looked at him over her glasses.
“Toddlers are also not prescribed adult sedatives.”
Then Nora introduced Claire.
Ryan’s lawyer objected.
Nora did not blink.
“My client was told Claire Whitman was deceased. Claire is alive, under Diane Bennett’s guardianship, and her medication was used on my client’s child.”
Ryan stared at the table.
Diane’s hands clenched.
The judge asked one question.
“Mr. Bennett, is your first wife alive?”
Ryan whispered, “Yes.”
I closed my eyes.
The judge granted me emergency sole custody.
Diane was ordered to have no contact with Lily or me.
Ryan’s contact was suspended pending investigation.
The court also ordered records from Claire’s facility and Dr. Price.
Outside, Ryan tried to approach me.
Nora stepped between us.
“Emily,” he said, crying. “I was going to tell you.”
I looked at him.
“You told me she was dead.”
His face crumpled.
“My mother said it was kinder.”
“For who?”
He did not answer.
Because the answer was never Claire.
May you like
Never me.
