Chapter 4
Dad did not sleep.
By morning, he had already called a lawyer.
Her name was Nora Fields.
She arrived at the hospital in a navy suit with a folder, a tablet, and eyes that missed nothing.
She listened to me explain everything.
The bank card.
The kennel.
The forged signature.
My mother’s signature.
When I finished, Nora said, “We file for an emergency protective order today.”
“What about the guardianship?”
“Invalid if forged, coerced, or signed without your consent. We will challenge it immediately.”
Dad handed her the papers.
Nora studied them.
Her expression shifted.
“What?”
She pointed to the notary stamp.
“This notary has appeared in three elder coercion cases I handled.”
My stomach tightened.
“Elder?”
Nora looked at Dad.
“How old is Carol?”
“Sixty-two.”
“Financially dependent on anyone?”
Dad’s face changed.
“No. At least, I didn’t think so.”
Nora kept reading.
“There’s an attached medical affidavit.”
I sat up too fast.
Pain pulled across my belly.
“What medical affidavit?”
Nora hesitated.
“It claims you are showing signs of prenatal psychosis.”
I laughed.
It came out cracked.
“I’ve never been diagnosed with that.”
“It is signed by Dr. Steven Vale.”
Dad went still.
I looked at him.
“Do you know him?”
Dad’s mouth tightened.
“He’s Carol’s doctor.”
A cold line ran down my spine.
My mother had signed papers based on a doctor’s statement about my mind.
A doctor who had never examined me.
Nora closed the folder.
“This was planned.”
The baby kicked hard.
I placed both hands over my stomach.
Ryan had not lost control.
Diane had not gotten carried away.
May you like
They were building a cage long before the kennel.
And my mother had helped them hold the door.
