Chapter 8: The Words She Was Forced To Say
I couldn’t move.
The judge’s words echoed in my head.
Say what we practiced.
I looked at Emily.
Her face was filled with shame.
Not guilt.
Shame.
Like she believed she had done something wrong.
I immediately shook my head.
“Emily.””
She looked at me.
“You didn’t do anything wrong.””
A tear fell from her eye.
“I tried not to say it.””
My heart broke.
The judge looked at Sarah.
“Mrs. Carter, did you rehearse testimony with your daughter?””
Sarah crossed her arms.
“I helped her understand the situation.””
The judge stared at her.
“That is not what I asked.””
Sarah looked toward her attorney.
He said nothing.
The judge turned to Emily.
“Sweetheart, did your mother tell you what to say today?””
Emily nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
The courtroom erupted.
Sarah’s attorney immediately objected.
“Your Honor—”
The judge silenced him.
“When?””
Emily looked down.
“Last week.””
Sarah’s face tightened.
“What exactly did she tell you?””
Emily squeezed my hand.
“She said the judge would ask who I wanted to live with.””
The judge nodded.
“And?””
“She said if I picked Dad, Grandma would disappear.””
A painful silence followed.
I looked at Sarah.
“You threatened her with my mother?””
Sarah shook her head.
“No.””
Emily looked at her.
“Yes, you did.””
Sarah froze.
My daughter’s voice became stronger.
“You said Grandma would go away because Dad would make everyone hate you.””
Sarah whispered:
“I was upset.””
Emily shook her head.
“You said it three times.””
The judge looked at Sarah.
“Three times?””
Sarah said nothing.
Then Emily reached into her pocket again.
This time, she pulled out a small folded piece of paper.
My heart sank.
Another secret.
The judge looked at her.
“What is that?””
Emily handed it over.
“My notes.””
The judge opened the paper.
Inside were handwritten sentences.
The writing was messy.
Childlike.
But every word was clear.
The judge read silently.
Then he looked up.
“Emily, did you write this?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
She swallowed.
“Because I thought I would forget.””
My hands clenched.
“Forget what?””
Emily looked at the floor.
“Everything Mom told me.””
The judge read one of the notes.
“‘Say Dad is angry all the time.’”
He looked at Sarah.
Then another.
“‘Say Dad doesn’t listen.’”
The courtroom became colder.
I remembered every time Emily had looked at me differently over the past year.
Every time she hesitated before hugging me.
Every time she apologized for wanting to stay longer.
Sarah had been rewriting her memories.
The judge continued reading.
Then he stopped.
His face changed.
“What is this?””
Everyone looked at him.
The judge held the paper.
“This final line.””
He looked at Emily.
“Did your mother tell you to write this?””
Emily nodded.
“What does it mean?””
My daughter whispered:
“She said if I didn’t do what she wanted…”
She stopped.
The judge waited.
Emily looked terrified.
“She said she would tell everyone something about Dad.””
My stomach dropped.
Sarah looked away.
The judge looked at me.
“Mr. Carter, do you know what she was referring to?””
“No.””
Sarah suddenly spoke.
“Because it’s true.””
The courtroom froze.
My attorney stood.
“Your Honor—”
But the judge raised his hand.
Sarah looked directly at me.
“You want everyone to think I’m the villain.””
Her voice trembled.
“But you have secrets too.””
I stared at her.
“What secrets?””
Sarah didn’t answer.
She looked at Emily.
Then back at me.
“The night Emily disappeared wasn’t the only time you failed her.””
The judge watched carefully.
“Mrs. Carter, be specific.””
Sarah smiled faintly.
“I will.””
She reached into her bag.
And pulled out a document.
My blood ran cold.
Because I recognized the logo at the top.
It was from my workplace.
Sarah placed it on the table.
“This is why Daniel was never the perfect father.””
My attorney looked at me.
“Daniel?””
I stared at the paper.
May you like
Because I had no idea how Sarah got it.
And I had no idea what she was about to reveal.
