MY FOUR-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER POINTED AT MY NEW WIFE DURING FAMILY DINNER AND SCREAMED, “SHE’S A MONSTER!” I THOUGHT SHE WAS JUST JEALOUS—UNTIL SHE REVEALED WHAT HAPPENED EVERY NIGHT AFTER I FELL ASLEEP.

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

I stared at the photograph in Rebecca's trembling hands.

Sarah was smiling weakly, holding our newborn daughter against her chest. Her hospital gown was wrinkled, and a small oxygen tube rested beneath her nose.

On the back were seven words.

If anything happens to me, protect my daughter from Margaret.

My mother.

The woman who had held my hand at Sarah's funeral. The woman who had helped me raise Ari. The woman who had cried harder than anyone when we buried my wife.

I looked at Rebecca.

“Tell me this is some kind of mistake.””

Rebecca shook her head.

“I wish I could.””

Emily moved closer.

“Aunt Rebecca, why would Sarah write that?””

Rebecca placed the photograph on the table.

“Because your mother had been making decisions about that baby before Sarah even gave birth.””

I felt my stomach tighten.

“What decisions?””

Rebecca looked toward Claire.

“Perhaps your wife should explain what she was doing in that hospital.””

Claire lowered her head.

I turned toward her.

“I'm waiting.””

She wiped her cheeks.

“I was working in the maternity department. Your mother hired me privately to help Sarah after the delivery.””

“My mother hired you?””

“Yes.””

“Why didn't Sarah know you?””

“She did. We spoke several times before the birth.””

I stared at her.

“Then why did you pretend you were meeting us for the first time when we started dating?””

Claire looked away.

“Because Margaret told me not to mention it.””

I laughed, but there was no humor in it.

“My mother instructed you to hide your connection to my dead wife, and you thought marrying me was a reasonable next step?””

“Daniel, I loved you.””

“That's not an answer!””

Ari's small voice came from the top of the stairs.

“Daddy?””

I immediately turned.

She stood in her pajamas, holding her stuffed rabbit.

I rushed toward her.

“Sweetheart, why aren't you sleeping?””

“I heard yelling.””

I lifted her into my arms.

“Everything's okay.””

She looked over my shoulder.

Then she whispered:

“Is Grandma angry?””

My chest tightened.

“Why would Grandma be angry?””

Ari pointed toward the photograph.

“Because Mommy said Grandma was bad.””

Rebecca covered her mouth.

I carried Ari to the couch and sat beside her.

“Baby, did Mommy tell you that?””

Ari shook her head.

“No. Mommy told me in a dream.””

I kissed her forehead.

“It's okay.””

But she wasn't finished.

“Grandma came to my room last week. She told me not to tell you about Mommy's pictures.””

Emily stood abruptly.

“Margaret was here?””

Claire's face changed.

“Yes,” she said quietly.

I turned toward her.

“When?””

“Last Thursday.””

“Why?””

“She wanted to check on Ari.””

“What did she do in my daughter's bedroom?””

Claire hesitated.

Then she whispered:

“She took something.””

Rebecca suddenly stood.

“Did she take Sarah's little blue notebook?””

Claire nodded.

Rebecca closed her eyes.

“Oh, God.””

I looked between them.

“What notebook?””

Rebecca sat down slowly.

“Sarah kept a diary during the final weeks of her pregnancy. She wrote down everything that happened, including the arguments she had with Margaret.””

“Why would my mother argue with Sarah?””

Rebecca looked directly at me.

“Because Sarah discovered that Margaret had been contacting an adoption agency.””

The room seemed to tilt.

I held Ari closer.

“An adoption agency?””

Rebecca nodded.

“Your mother believed Sarah was too unstable to raise the baby. She wanted custody of Ari arranged before the delivery.””

“That is impossible. Sarah was perfectly healthy.””

“Sarah had been experiencing complications. Margaret used those complications to convince people she couldn't care for the child.””

Emily looked horrified.

“Why would Grandma want Ari?””

Rebecca hesitated.

“Because your mother believed she had a better claim to that child than Sarah did.””

I felt anger rising through my chest.

“And what does Claire have to do with this?””

Rebecca looked at my wife.

“Claire was supposed to help Margaret document Sarah's condition.””

Claire began crying.

“I didn't know how far she intended to take it.””

Rebecca's voice sharpened.

“You knew enough to keep photographs.””

“I was twenty-eight years old and terrified of losing my job!””

“And now you're doing the same thing to Sarah's daughter.””

Claire covered her face.

I stood.

“Enough. I want everyone out of my daughter's room, and I want the truth.””

Rebecca reached into her coat.

She pulled out another photograph.

This one showed Sarah sitting in a hospital wheelchair.

Beside her stood my mother.

But something was written across the bottom.

March 14. Margaret says the agreement must be signed before Daniel arrives.

I checked the date.

It was the day before Sarah died.

“What's the agreement?”” I asked.

Rebecca shook her head.

“I never saw the complete document.””

Claire suddenly spoke.

“It wasn't an adoption agreement.””

Everyone turned toward her.

She swallowed.

“It was a guardianship agreement. Temporary custody. Margaret wanted Sarah to sign it because she claimed Daniel would be unable to care for the baby alone.””

I stared at her.

“Did Sarah sign it?””

Claire didn't answer.

Rebecca looked toward the hallway.

Then she whispered:

“No. And that's why Margaret was so desperate the following night.””

Before anyone could respond, my phone rang.

Mom.

I answered and put it on speaker.

“Daniel, darling,” she said brightly.

“I hope dinner didn't end too badly.””

I stared at Rebecca.