Chapter 5: The Grandmother Who Planned Everything
By the time we left the airport office, night had settled over Atlanta.
Lily was asleep in my arms, her cheek pressed against my shoulder. The flowers she had bought for Daniel were still in the plastic bag an officer had returned to me.
I carried them because I couldn't bear to throw them away.
They were the last innocent thing left from that morning.
An officer explained that the documents would be reviewed and that the allegations involving the custody papers and planned travel needed formal follow-up. I was advised to contact a family-law attorney immediately and to make sure Lily's passport and other identification documents were secure.
Daniel was still insisting that everyone had misunderstood him.
He had stopped looking at me.
Perhaps he finally understood that I wasn't going to be persuaded by another apology.
Outside the office, Vanessa caught up with me.
"Sarah, can I talk to you for a minute?""
I shifted Lily higher on my hip.
"Why?""
"Because I think Patricia has been lying to both of us.""
I studied her face.
"Your relationship with my husband is not my problem anymore. Whatever he promised you, you'll have to deal with him.""
"I know."" She wiped her cheeks.
"But this involves Nathan. And Lily.""
That stopped me.
"What do you know about the other report?""
Vanessa glanced toward the office.
"Nothing. But Patricia has been making calls about Nathan's medical treatment for months. She told me she knew a specialist in London who could get him evaluated faster than anyone here.""
"Did Daniel tell you that?""
"Yes. He said his mother had connections through a family friend.""
I remembered Patricia's voice coming through the phone.
Once Sarah drops her off tomorrow morning, I'll bring her straight to the airport.
Patricia hadn't simply agreed to help her son.
She had planned to collect my daughter from my own home.
"How often has Patricia been alone with Lily?"" I asked.
Vanessa looked stricken.
"I don't know.""
"How often?""
"Daniel said she watched Lily a few times while you were working. He told me his mother was helping you.""
My grip tightened around my daughter.
"She was.""
I thought of the afternoons Patricia had baked cookies with Lily, the little hair clips she bought her, the bedtime stories she read when I had late meetings.
I had thanked her for being a wonderful grandmother.
Now I wondered what she had been telling my child when I wasn't there.
My phone rang.
Patricia's name filled the screen.
I stared at it for a moment before answering.
"Hello.""
"Sarah!"" Her voice was bright, almost cheerful.
"I've been trying to reach Daniel. Is everything all right? He hasn't answered his phone.""
I looked through the glass doors at the dark parking lot.
"You tell me, Patricia.""
There was a pause.
"What does that mean?""
"It means I know about London.""
Silence.
Then she sighed.
"Oh, Sarah. I knew Daniel was going to tell you eventually.""
"Tell me what? That he was planning to take my daughter out of the country?""
"He wasn't taking her away from you permanently.""
"He forged my signature.""
"He was trying to protect his family.""
"Which family, Patricia? The one he has with me, or the one he has with Vanessa?""
Her breathing changed.
"What did you say?""
I almost laughed.
"Don't pretend you didn't know about Vanessa. Your son has a four-year-old child with another woman.""
Patricia remained silent long enough for me to hear the faint sound of a television in the background.
Then she said, "This isn't the time to discuss Daniel's private life.""
I closed my eyes.
"You're right. Let's discuss the part where you planned to take Lily to the airport tomorrow without my permission.""
"I was helping my son.""
"You were helping him steal my child.""
"Don't use that word!""
"Then tell me what word I should use.""
Her voice sharpened.
"Sarah, you've always been emotional. Daniel told me you might react badly. That's why he wanted to arrange everything before explaining it.""
I stared at the phone.
"You knew he forged my signature?""
"I knew there were legal arrangements being made.""
"That isn't an answer.""
"You're making this much worse than it needs to be.""
Behind me, Vanessa whispered, "Ask her about the DNA report.""
I raised my voice.
"What other DNA report are you hiding?""
Patricia stopped speaking.
It was only a second, but it was enough.
"You've seen the laboratory results?"" she asked.
"Some of them.""
"Then you understand that Nathan needs help.""
"Why does the specialist need another report?""
Patricia's tone changed. The sweetness disappeared, leaving something cold and deliberate.
"Because some questions should have been answered years ago.""
My heart began pounding.
"What questions?""
"I am not discussing medical matters over the phone.""
"Then we'll discuss them with the police and our attorneys.""
"You wouldn't dare drag Lily through a public scandal.""
I looked down at my sleeping daughter.
"You're the one who dragged her into this.""
Patricia lowered her voice.
"Sarah, listen to me carefully. Daniel made mistakes. So did I.
But if you expose everything, you won't just hurt him. You'll destroy a sick little boy who has done nothing wrong.""
I felt the familiar weight of guilt pressing against my chest.
It was exactly the kind of guilt Patricia had always used to control people.
Whenever Daniel forgot Lily's birthday, Patricia reminded me how hard he worked.
Whenever he stayed out all night, she told me marriage required patience.
Whenever I complained that he was hiding something, she asked whether I wanted Lily to grow up without a father.
But this time, I didn't let her finish.
"Nathan deserves medical care. Lily deserves safety. Neither child deserves to be used as leverage.""
Patricia inhaled sharply.
"You don't understand the situation.""
"Then explain it.""
She said nothing.
I waited.
Finally, she whispered, "If you find the original report, you'll understand why Daniel had no choice.""
"No choice about what?""
The call disconnected.
I stared at the screen.
Vanessa had heard every word.
"She knows something," she said.
"Yes.""
"And she's scared.""
I looked toward the airport office, where Daniel was still being questioned.
"No," I said quietly.
"She's scared we'll discover what she's been helping him hide.""
My phone vibrated again.
This time, it was a message from an unknown number.
There was no greeting, only a photograph of a laboratory report.
The heading was partly obscured, but two names were visible.
*NATHAN MILLER.*
*DANIEL CARTER.*
Beneath them was a line of text.
Probability of paternity: 0.00%.
I stared at the screen until the letters blurred.
May you like
Then another message appeared.
*If you want the truth about Nathan, ask Patricia who his biological father really is.*
