Chapter 10
Laura’s case reopened fully after the fraud conviction.
Vanessa’s apartment was searched again.
This time, detectives took computers, journals, storage drives, and an old hospital badge.
They found deleted searches.
Nut allergy reaction timing.
Epinephrine failure.
How long before anaphylaxis fatal.
My hands shook when Detective Brooks told me.
Noah was at school.
Thank God.
I went to Laura’s grave that afternoon.
Margaret and Thomas came too.
For a long time, none of us spoke.
Then I said, “I should have asked more questions.”
Margaret’s voice broke.
“We all thought it was an accident.”
“But Vanessa was there.”
“We didn’t know who she was then.”
I knelt by the stone.
Laura Hale.
Beloved wife, mother, daughter.
I pressed my hand to the grass.
“I’m sorry.”
Wind moved through the trees.
No answer.
Only ache.
At home, Noah asked where I went.
“To Mommy’s grave.”
He looked down.
“Did you tell her about the balloon?”
Despite everything, I almost smiled.
“Yes.”
“Would she think I was bad?”
“No. She would think you were brave.”
He nodded slowly.
“I miss her.”
“I do too.”
He climbed into my lap.
“She would believe me?”
“Immediately.”
He rested his head against my chest.
I whispered, “I should have believed you sooner.”
“You did when I showed you.”
“I should have before.”
Noah was quiet.
May you like
Then he said, “Do that next time.”
“I will.”
