Chapter 6
Detective Cara Brooks took over the case.
She was calm in a way that made people tell the truth faster.
She interviewed nurses from Laura’s hospital.
One remembered Vanessa immediately.
“Too interested,” she said. “Always hovering.”
Another nurse found the old incident report.
Vanessa had accessed Laura’s chart without permission.
Allergy list.
Medication schedule.
Emergency contacts.
Financial power of attorney contact.
My name.
Noah’s name.
The trust attorney’s name.
My stomach turned.
Detective Brooks also found the volunteer dismissal record.
Vanessa had not left quietly.
She had written one sentence in an email to the coordinator.
Laura Hale thinks she owns grief because she is dying.
I stared at the printout.
“Who writes that?”
Nora answered quietly.
“Someone who wanted your wife’s place before it was empty.”
Noah began therapy that week.
Dr. Lane gave him crayons.
He drew a cage.
Then a bear.
Then a woman with sharp teeth.
I watched behind glass and felt shame burn through me.
I had brought Vanessa close.
I had asked Noah to accept her.
I had told him she loved him.
After therapy, he climbed into my lap.
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“Can I still miss Mommy if you get not-married?”
I almost broke.
“Yes,” I whispered. “You can miss Mommy forever.”
He nodded.
“Good. I don’t want to forget.”
May you like
I kissed his hair.
“We won’t.”
