Chapter 13
Eleanor walked into the courthouse wearing gray silk and a victim’s face.
Her petition claimed I was paralyzed, unstable, under investigation, and unable to care for my newborn.
She claimed Julian was missing because I had driven him to a breakdown.
She claimed Hazel needed a capable guardian.
Her.
Sarah had expected something like it.
She filed our opposition before Eleanor reached the clerk.
Then she sent Detective Collins, federal agents, hospital records, assault evidence, and recordings to the judge.
I attended by video from my hospital bed.
Hazel slept beside me.
Eleanor appeared on screen, calm and pale.
“Genevieve is unwell,” she said. “I love my granddaughter.”
I leaned toward the camera.
“You did not look at her when she was born.”
Her face flickered.
“You are emotional.”
“No. I am documented.”
Sarah played the recording.
Eleanor’s voice filled the courtroom.
Who will believe a paralyzed woman?
The judge’s face hardened.
Then Sarah played the phone call.
Enjoy the baby while you can.
Eleanor’s lawyer lowered his head.
The custody petition was denied.
Then agents arrested Eleanor in the hallway.
This time, there was no bond.
When she realized cameras were filming, she tried to straighten her jacket.
It did not help.
The world finally saw her without the dinner parties and pearls.
Just a woman who tried to steal a newborn from the mother she had assaulted.
That night, I moved my right foot.
Then my left.
A little.
Enough.
Thomas cried.
Sarah cried.
I cried too.
Not because I was healed.
Because I was returning.
May you like
Piece by piece.
And no one was going to own those pieces but me.
