Chapter 10
Vanessa was charged with more crimes.
Fraud.
Child abuse.
Conspiracy.
Attempted trust theft.
And, finally, manslaughter related to Laura’s death.
The murder charge did not stick at first.
The evidence was strong but tangled.
Nora warned me.
“Justice may not look exactly how you want.”
“I want Laura back.”
No one could answer that.
Noah knew only that Vanessa had hurt him and lied about Mommy.
He did not know the medication details.
He did not know the word manslaughter.
He did know adults were in court because Vanessa did bad things.
One night, he asked, “Did Vanessa make Mommy go away?”
I sat beside him on the bed.
My throat hurt.
“We are learning that Vanessa may have hurt Mommy when Mommy was already very sick.”
Noah’s eyes filled.
“Why?”
“Because Vanessa wanted things that were not hers.”
“Like Mommy Bear?”
“Yes.”
He hugged the bear.
“She can’t have it.”
“No.”
“Or me?”
I pulled him close.
“Never you.”
At the first major hearing, Vanessa saw me in the hallway.
She smiled faintly.
“You look tired, Daniel.”
I stepped close enough for her to hear, not close enough to touch.
“Noah slept eight hours last night.”
Her smile faded.
That was my first victory.
Not court.
May you like
Not revenge.
My son sleeping.
