Chapter 3 - The Signature Was Not Hers
Evelyn smiled as if Lucas had arrived for a planned family visit.
“You should have called before coming,” she said.
Lucas stared at her.
“You disconnected Sophia’s phone.”
“She was overwhelmed.”
“You canceled my leave request.”
“You were needed where you were.”
“My wife was in the hospital.”
“She had us.”
Sophia’s fingers tightened around Lucas’s sleeve.
“They would not let me leave the room.”
Evelyn looked at her with practiced patience.
“No one prevented you from leaving. The doctors recommended rest.”
“The door was locked.”
“For your protection.”
“From whom?” Lucas asked.
Natalie shifted beside the bassinet.
Evelyn answered without hesitation.
“From Sophia’s poor judgment.”
Lucas moved toward Emma.
Natalie placed one hand on the bassinet.
“You should wash first.”
“Move your hand.”
“Lucas, calm down.”
He looked at his sister.
Natalie had always been confident, polished and certain she understood the family better than anyone else. Growing up, she had defended Evelyn’s decisions even when those decisions hurt both of them.
But this time, something was different.
Natalie could not hold his gaze.
Lucas washed his hands at the sink, then approached the bassinet.
Emma was smaller than he imagined.
A knitted cap covered her dark hair. A hospital bracelet circled her tiny wrist. Her cries quieted when Lucas placed his hand against her chest.
“Hi,” he whispered. “I’m your dad.”
Sophia began to cry silently.
Evelyn crossed the room.
“You cannot simply arrive and take control.”
Lucas turned.
“She is my daughter.”
“And what experience do you have with premature infants?”
“The same amount you had before you became a mother.”
Evelyn’s face tightened.
Dr. Reyes entered behind them and checked Emma’s monitor.
“Her temperature has increased again.”
Natalie folded her arms.
“We told the night nurse not to give her anything until the specialist arrived.”
Dr. Reyes looked at her.
“The specialist already approved the treatment.”
“My mother requested another opinion.”
“Your mother is not the patient’s legal guardian.”
Evelyn removed a document from her handbag.
“This says otherwise.”
She handed it to Lucas.
The first page was titled Emergency Family Protection Authorization.
It stated that Sophia Hart had voluntarily appointed Natalie as temporary guardian for both herself and her newborn child.
The form included Sophia’s date of birth, medical record number and an exact description of her condition.
At the bottom was Sophia’s signature.
Lucas carried the page to the bed.
“Did you sign this?”
Sophia looked at it.
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“I have never seen it.”
Evelyn sighed.
“She signed several documents after surgery.”
“I could barely open my eyes after surgery,” Sophia replied.
Natalie’s voice sharpened.
“You were awake enough to insult everyone trying to help you.”
Sophia flinched.
Lucas looked at his sister.
“What happened after the delivery?”
Natalie’s mouth opened.
Evelyn interrupted.
“Sophia became hysterical. She accused the staff of trying to take her baby. She attempted to leave against medical advice.”
“I asked for my phone,” Sophia said.
“You were not capable of making decisions.”
“So you made them for her?” Lucas asked.
Evelyn lifted her chin.
“Someone had to.”
Dr. Reyes took the document from Lucas.
“I want a copy sent to legal review.”
Keller appeared in the doorway.
“That will not be necessary.”
No one had heard him approach.
He entered and closed the door behind him.
“The authorization has already been verified.”
“By whom?” Dr. Reyes asked.
“Our compliance office.”
“Give me the name.”
Keller’s expression warned her to stop.
She did not.
“Who verified the signature?”
Keller turned to Lucas.
“Your arrival is causing your wife unnecessary stress.”
“My wife looks more frightened of you than she does of me.”
“This is a medical environment, not a courtroom.”
“Then stop acting like a judge.”
Keller’s smile vanished.
“You have been absent for months. Your mother and sister have managed the situation responsibly.”
Lucas looked at Emma’s fever reading.
“You call this responsible?”
Keller glanced at the monitor.
“The child’s condition is being addressed.”
Dr. Reyes moved between him and the bassinet.
“It would already have been addressed if my original orders had not been removed.”
Keller’s voice dropped.
“Be careful, Doctor.”
Lucas watched the exchange.
“Who removed them?”
Neither doctor answered.
Sophia whispered his name.
Lucas returned to the bed and leaned close.
“There’s a camera,” she said.
“What camera?”
“In the hallway. I heard a nurse say it recorded everything near the door.”
Keller spoke quickly.
“The maternity cameras do not record patient interactions.”
Sophia looked at him.
“Then why did Natalie ask you to delete the footage?”
Natalie’s head snapped toward her.
Evelyn’s hand tightened around her handbag.
Lucas slowly faced his sister.
“You asked him to delete it?”
“That is not what happened.”
“What happened?”
Natalie took a step backward.
“I asked whether the recordings could be kept private.”
“Why?”
“Because Sophia was behaving irrationally.”
Sophia pushed herself higher against the pillows.
“I was screaming for help.”
Evelyn turned toward her.
“You were embarrassing this family.”
The words remained in the room.
Even Keller looked uncomfortable.
Lucas pulled out his phone.
“I’m calling an attorney.”
Evelyn’s anger sharpened.
“You do not need an attorney against your own mother.”
“I stopped needing your permission a long time ago.”
He searched for Rachel Quinn, a former military legal advocate who had once helped a member of his unit expose fraudulent benefits claims.
Before he could place the call, the lights flickered.
Emma’s monitor briefly went dark, then returned.
Dr. Reyes checked the connection.
Keller looked toward the hallway.
“The storm is affecting the backup system.”
“No,” the doctor said. “This floor has an independent generator.”
Another alarm sounded farther down the corridor.
Keller left without another word.
Dr. Reyes followed him to the door, then stopped.
A folded note had been pushed underneath it.
She picked it up.
May you like
Written across the front were six words.
DO NOT LET THEM MOVE THE BABY.
