Chapter 9: The Night They Tried to Take My Son Away
I stood so quickly that my chair fell backward.
"What do you mean she's moving him?""
Vanessa grabbed my hand.
"Patricia told me she was taking Oliver to another state. She said she'd already arranged everything.""
"Where?""
"I don't know. Somewhere in Florida, I think.""
I immediately called Robert.
He answered on the second ring.
"Sarah?""
"Patricia is trying to take Oliver out of Tennessee tonight.""
There was a brief silence.
"Who told you?""
"Vanessa Carter. She's sitting right in front of me.""
Robert's voice became serious.
"Don't go to Patricia's house alone. I'm contacting the family-law attorney now. We need to establish the immediate risk and seek emergency relief.""
I turned toward Vanessa.
"Can you prove Patricia is planning to leave?""
She nodded.
"She sent me a message this morning.""
"Show me.""
Vanessa unlocked her phone.
The message was from Patricia.
Everything is arranged. Oliver will leave tonight. Daniel will explain the situation later. You will receive the remaining money when we're safely away.
I photographed the screen and sent it to Robert.
Another message followed.
Remember what happens if Sarah finds out where we are.
My hands trembled.
"She's threatening you.""
Vanessa nodded.
"She's been doing it for years.""
I looked at the woman who had carried my child.
For a moment, I didn't know whether to hate her or feel sorry for her.
She had accepted money.
She had signed documents.
She had participated in the deception.
But she was also clearly terrified of Patricia.
"Vanessa, I need you to tell the truth.""
"I will.""
"Even if it means admitting what you did?""
She looked down.
"Yes.""
I called my attorney, Rachel Bennett, whose number Robert had given me earlier that afternoon.
She listened carefully.
"Sarah, do not attempt to remove Oliver yourself. We need to use the court process immediately.""
"But he could be gone tonight.""
"I understand. Send me the messages and the documents. I'll coordinate with Robert and seek emergency intervention.""
I paced outside the coffee shop.
Then my phone rang.
Daniel.
I answered.
"Where is Oliver?""
"At Mom's house.""
"Is she planning to take him away?""
He hesitated.
"Sarah, you need to calm down.""
"Is she?""
"Mom thinks it's best if things settle down before you start making legal demands.""
I closed my eyes.
"Daniel, if you help her take him away, you'll be explaining that decision to a judge.""
"She's his grandmother!""
"I'm his mother.""
He sighed.
"Sarah, you've never even raised him.""
The words struck harder than I expected.
I lowered my voice.
"Because you told me he was dead.""
He didn't respond.
Then I heard a little voice in the background.
"Daddy?""
My heart stopped.
"Daniel, is Oliver with you?""
"Yes.""
"Put him on.""
"Sarah, don't.""
"PUT MY SON ON THE PHONE!""
A few seconds passed.
Then Oliver's tiny voice came through.
"Hello?""
I pressed my hand against my mouth.
"Hi, sweetheart. It's Mommy.""
"Mommy Sarah?""
"Yes, baby.""
"Grandma says we're going on a trip.""
I swallowed.
"Where are you going?""
"I don't know. Daddy says we're going somewhere with sunshine.""
I could hear Daniel moving in the background.
Oliver continued.
"Can you come too?""
Tears rolled down my face.
"I'm trying, sweetheart.""
"Grandma said you don't want me.""
I closed my eyes.
"That's not true. I have always wanted you.""
There was a pause.
Then he whispered, "I want you to read me the dinosaur book.""
I nearly broke.
"I will, sweetheart. I promise.""
Daniel took the phone away.
"That's enough.""
"Don't you dare hang up.""
He disconnected.
I stood outside the coffee shop, shaking.
Rachel called ten minutes later.
"Sarah, we have submitted an emergency application. I need you to send me the original medical records and the communications from Vanessa.""
"How long?""
"I can't promise a specific time. But we're moving quickly.""
I looked at the clock.
It was already after eight.
At 8:37 p.m., Robert called.
"Sarah, the court has issued an emergency order preventing Oliver from being relocated pending a hearing.""
I almost collapsed with relief.
"Does Patricia know?""
"She has been notified.""
I wiped my eyes.
"Where is Oliver now?""
"According to the information we've received, he's still at Patricia's residence.""
I asked Rachel whether I could go there.
She advised me to wait for law enforcement assistance if Patricia refused to cooperate.
But then Vanessa received another message.
She read it aloud.
"Daniel says Mom is taking Oliver to the airport anyway.""
My blood ran cold.
"Didn't the court order prohibit that?""
Vanessa showed me the screen.
The message contained a photograph.
Patricia stood beside a black SUV.
Oliver was visible through the rear window.
Underneath, she'd written:
Some people don't understand when they're no longer welcome.
I immediately sent the photograph to Rachel.
Her response came seconds later.
Do not approach the vehicle. Authorities are being notified.
We waited.
Ten minutes.
Fifteen.
Then Robert called.
"Sarah, they've located the vehicle.""
"Where?""
"Near the private airport outside Nashville.""
I grabbed my handbag.
"Take me there.""
"Sarah, wait for the authorities.""
I couldn't sit still.
I drove toward the airport with Vanessa following behind me.
When we arrived, two police vehicles were already parked near the entrance.
Patricia stood beside the SUV, arguing with an officer.
Daniel was holding Oliver.
The moment my son saw me, he stretched out both arms.
"Mommy!""
I ran toward him.
Daniel stepped back.
"Sarah, wait.""
I stopped.
An officer approached.
"Ma'am, are you Sarah Mitchell?""
"Yes. That's my son.""
He looked at the emergency order on his tablet.
"You're aware of the pending custody proceedings?""
"Yes.""
The officer turned toward Daniel.
"Sir, we need you to comply with the court order.""
Patricia exploded.
"He's my grandson! I raised him! She has no right to take him!""
The officer remained calm.
"Ma'am, this is not the time to argue custody.""
Patricia pointed at me.
"She abandoned him!""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"No, Patricia. You lied to her.""
Everyone turned.
Vanessa held up her phone.
"I have the messages. I have the payment records. I have everything.""
Patricia's face drained of color.
Daniel whispered, "Vanessa, don't.""
But Vanessa continued.
"You paid me to carry Oliver. You told me his mother was dead. Then you threatened my daughter when I wanted to tell Sarah the truth.""
Patricia took a step toward her.
"You're a liar!""
Vanessa held her ground.
"I have seventeen months of messages proving everything.""
The officer asked her to step aside and provide the evidence.
Daniel finally brought Oliver toward me.
My little boy ran into my arms.
I held him tightly, breathing in the familiar smell of his shampoo.
"Mommy, are we going home?""
I kissed his forehead.
"Not tonight, sweetheart. But we're going to be together.""
Then Daniel spoke behind me.
"Sarah, there's something you need to know before you take him.""
I turned.
He looked terrified.
"Mom didn't arrange the airport trip because she was afraid of losing Oliver.""
"Then why?""
Daniel swallowed.
"Because she found out the hospital is reopening the investigation into Michael's death.""
I stared at him.
"Michael died in a car accident.""
Daniel shook his head.
"No, Sarah. The accident report was falsified.""
He glanced toward Patricia.
And for the first time, I saw genuine fear in his eyes.
"Mom has been hiding what happened to Michael for six years.""
Just then, an officer approached with another document.
"Mrs. Mitchell, we need to ask you a few questions. Your mother-in-law has just made a statement claiming that Michael's death was connected to the same fertility arrangement.""
I looked down at Oliver.
Then back at Patricia.
She wasn't simply trying to keep my child anymore.
May you like
She was trying to keep a six-year-old secret buried.
And now the police were finally asking questions.
