Chapter 7 - the man with flowers
Rachel's first thought was that Marcus had come to arrest her.
It made no sense.
But fear rarely waited for logic.
Ben told Rachel to stay upstairs.
Rachel refused.
"This is about me."
"It might be safer if you're not near the door."
Rachel looked at Eli sleeping in the portable crib.
"Then I'm taking him with me."
Leah said, "I'll hold him."
Rachel hesitated.
Then nodded.
She walked downstairs with Ben.
Through the front window, she saw Marcus speaking quietly to the officer.
He held white roses.
Rachel had always hated white roses.
Marcus knew that.
He bought them whenever he wanted other people to think he was romantic.
Ben opened the door but kept the storm door locked.
"Can I help you?"
The officer stepped forward.
"I'm Officer Daniels. Mr. Collins requested a welfare check on his infant son."
Rachel felt something hot move through her chest.
Marcus looked past Ben.
"Rachel."
She remained in the hallway.
Officer Daniels asked, "Mrs. Collins?"
"Yes."
"Are you willing to speak with me?"
Rachel stepped forward.
Marcus immediately said, "I just want to see my son."
The officer raised a hand.
"Sir, give me a moment."
Rachel opened the storm door but did not invite them inside.
"The baby was examined at St. Anne's this afternoon."
The officer looked at her face.
"Were you also examined?"
"Yes."
Marcus said, "She fell."
Rachel looked directly at the officer.
"My husband pulled me out of the bathroom by my hair. I fell face-first."
Marcus's jaw tightened.
The officer's posture changed.
"Was a report made?"
"The hospital documented my injuries. I haven't filed a police report yet."
Marcus stared at her.
"You told them I attacked you?"
Rachel almost laughed.
Officer Daniels turned.
"Sir, step back toward the sidewalk."
"This is my wife."
"Step back."
Marcus obeyed.
The flowers hung awkwardly from his hand.
Officer Daniels spoke quietly to Rachel.
"Do you feel safe with him here?"
"No."
"Do you want him to leave?"
"Yes."
The officer nodded.
"I'll ask him to leave. You can also make a report tonight if you want."
Marcus heard.
"This is ridiculous."
Officer Daniels turned.
"Mr. Collins."
"She is exhausted. She gave birth twelve days ago. She's having some kind of breakdown."
Rachel watched him do it.
Right in front of her.
Right in front of a police officer.
He did not even hesitate.
Officer Daniels looked back at Rachel.
Rachel said, "He has been telling people that since before today."
Marcus laughed.
"See?"
The officer frowned.
Marcus realized too late that laughter had been the wrong reaction.
Rachel continued.
"His boss heard part of what happened because Marcus left a video call connected."
Marcus's face went still.
Officer Daniels looked at him.
Marcus said, "My boss heard yelling. That's all."
Rachel said, "The company recorded the call."
Silence.
Marcus looked at her.
For one second Rachel saw genuine panic.
Then his expression smoothed.
"Rachel, don't discuss confidential company information."
Ben made a sound of disbelief.
Officer Daniels said, "Sir, I'm going to ask you to leave."
Marcus took one step forward.
"Can I see Eli?"
Rachel answered.
"No."
"He's my son."
"And you watched your mother throw him onto a bed."
Elaine had trained Marcus to react quickly.
He did.
"That never happened."
Rachel looked at him.
Not "she placed him carefully."
Not "you're exaggerating."
Never happened.
A new version.
Officer Daniels said, "Mr. Collins, leave."
Marcus finally placed the flowers on the porch.
He looked at Rachel.
"This does not have to become a war."
Rachel said, "Then stop fighting the truth."
Marcus walked to his car.
The officer stayed.
Rachel filed a report that night.
She described everything.
The hair pulling.
The fall.
Elaine's treatment of Eli.
The messages.
Marcus's attempts to describe her as unstable.
She gave Officer Daniels copies of hospital documents.
She saved the incident number.
When it was over, she sat at Leah's kitchen table feeling hollow.
"You did the right thing," Leah said.
Rachel looked at the clock.
11:14 p.m.
"I don't know what the right thing is anymore."
"The safe thing, then."
Rachel nodded.
Her phone buzzed.
An email.
Marcus.
Subject: PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU RUIN OUR FAMILY.
Rachel opened it.
The message was long.
Marcus apologized.
Then explained why it was partly her fault.
He said he had been under extraordinary pressure.
He said Eli's crying had embarrassed him.
He said Rachel knew how much his promotion mattered.
He admitted grabbing her hair but claimed he had only been trying to "guide her out of the bathroom."
He said she had lost her balance.
He accused her of using the baby as leverage.
Then came the line that made Rachel sit straighter.
I have spoken to an attorney. If you continue withholding Eli, I will seek emergency custody based on your current mental condition.
Leah read over her shoulder.
"Current mental condition?"
Rachel scrolled farther.
Marcus had attached something.
A document.
Rachel opened it.
It was titled INCIDENT LOG.
The first entry was dated two months earlier.
Rachel crying uncontrollably for no reason.
Another.
Rachel expressed irrational fear that my mother was trying to control the nursery.
Another.
Rachel became angry when asked to maintain a regular feeding schedule.
There were twenty-three entries.
Rachel stared at them.
May you like
Marcus had not begun preparing his story that morning.
He had been building a file.
