Chapter 10: The Call Before Lily Was Born
The room went silent.
Not the uncomfortable kind of silence.
The kind that happens when everyone knows something important is about to be revealed.
I looked at Emily.
Her face had lost all color.
“Emily?””
She didn’t answer.
My mother folded her arms.
“There it is.””
I turned toward her.
“What are you talking about?””
She smiled.
“The truth.””
Emily shook her head.
“James, it’s not what she’s making it sound like.””
“Then tell me.””
My voice wasn’t angry.
It was hurt.
And I think that scared her more.
Because Emily had always been able to handle my anger.
But she hated disappointing me.
She looked down at Lily.
“I got a phone call when I was eight months pregnant.””
“From who?””
She swallowed.
“From a woman named Claire.””
I frowned.
“Who is Claire?””
Emily’s eyes filled with tears.
“She said she knew your mother.””
My mother’s expression changed slightly.
Just slightly.
But I noticed.
“What did she say?””
Emily sat down slowly.
“She told me to be careful.””
Everyone in the room watched her.
“She said your mother had done this before.””
My stomach tightened.
“Done what?””
Emily looked at my mother.
“She said your mother had tried to separate other women from their children.””
A murmur moved through the room.
My mother immediately stepped forward.
“That woman is lying.””
I turned to her.
“Do you know Claire?””
She hesitated.
Only for a second.
But it was enough.
“You do.””
My mother’s jaw tightened.
“She’s unstable.””
“Everyone who disagrees with you is unstable.””
The words came out before I could stop them.
And for the first time, my mother looked wounded.
Emily continued.
“Claire told me she had been married to your mother’s brother years ago.””
I frowned.
“My uncle?””
Emily nodded.
“She said your mother convinced everyone that she was an unfit mother.””
The room became even quieter.
“And then?””
Emily looked down.
“She lost custody of her daughter.””
My aunt gasped.
“That’s not possible.””
My mother looked around.
“See? This is what happens when people believe strangers.””
But Emily wasn’t finished.
“She told me not to panic. She told me to keep records of everything.””
My eyes moved to the notebook.
The rules.
The dates.
The evidence.
“That’s why you kept quiet?””
Emily nodded.
“I didn’t know if she was telling the truth.””
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
Her voice broke.
“Because your mother found out.””
I froze.
“What?””
“The day after Claire called me, your mother came into our room.””
My mother’s face changed.
“She told me that if I ever mentioned the call to you, she would make sure everyone believed I was unstable.””
My fists tightened.
“She threatened you.””
Emily nodded.
“She said nobody would believe a tired new mother over a grandmother.””
My mother laughed.
A short, bitter laugh.
“You’re really going to believe this?””
I looked at her.
“I don’t know what to believe anymore.””
That was the first honest thing I had said.
Because the woman standing in front of me was my mother.
But every new discovery showed me a side of her I had never seen.
My aunt slowly stood.
“Linda.””
My mother looked at her.
“You need to explain.””
“I don’t explain myself.””
“No.””
My aunt shook her head.
“You do.””
My mother looked around.
She realized something.
The room wasn’t on her side anymore.
She reached for her purse.
“This is ridiculous.””
I stepped forward.
“Where are you going?””
“Home.””
“You’re not answering anything?””
She looked at me.
“You’ve already decided I’m the villain.””
“No.””
I stared at her.
“You made your choices.””
She walked past me.
But before leaving, she stopped beside Emily.
“You think you won.””
Emily held Lily tighter.
My mother whispered:
“You have no idea what James will discover next.””
Then she left.
Nobody spoke.
Until my phone buzzed.
May you like
A message from an unknown number.
*I’m Claire. We need to meet before your mother destroys the evidence.*
