Chapter 3 - The Family Chooses Sides)
The first family meeting happened three days later.
Claire did not want Emma present.
Margaret insisted.
“She needs to see that adults can resolve disagreements.”
Claire stared at her mother.
“This isn’t a disagreement.”
Nevertheless, they met at Margaret’s house.
Lauren and Derek had returned early after authorities informed them that an emergency custody order had been requested.
Lauren entered wearing a pink designer suit.
She did not hug Emma.
She looked at Claire.
“Happy now?”
Emma immediately moved closer to her aunt.
Claire noticed.
So did the social worker.
Derek sat beside Lauren.
Ryan stood near the fireplace.
Margaret poured coffee as though hosting an ordinary Sunday brunch.
“Everyone needs to calm down.”
Claire placed the police report on the table.
“No.”
Margaret frowned.
“Claire.”
“No more calming down.”
Lauren crossed her arms.
“I made a parenting decision.”
“You left a nine-year-old alone beside a road.”
“For forty minutes.”
“Seventy-three.”
Lauren blinked.
Claire continued.
“The traffic camera established the exact time.”
Derek scoffed.
“She survived.”
Claire turned toward him.
Emma flinched.
Claire saw it.
“What did you say?”
“I said she survived.”
Claire stood.
Michael Grant, who had attended at Claire’s request, quietly placed a hand on her arm.
“Claire.”
She remained standing.
“Say it again.”
Derek smiled.
Michael stepped between them.
Ryan finally spoke.
“Look, Derek shouldn’t have said that.”
Claire turned.
“But?”
Ryan exhaled.
“But Lauren’s still her mother.”
Emma lowered her head.
Claire looked at him for a long moment.
“So?”
“So maybe we stop acting like she tried to kill her.”
Lauren burst into tears.
“Thank you.”
Claire stared at Ryan.
“You weren’t there.”
“Neither were you.”
“I found her.”
“That doesn’t make you her mother.”
Emma suddenly stood.
Everyone looked at her.
Her voice was tiny.
“I don’t want to go home.”
Lauren stopped crying.
“What?”
Emma looked at the social worker.
“I want Aunt Claire.”
Lauren’s face changed.
“You ungrateful little brat.”
The social worker immediately stood.
“Mrs. Bennett.”
Lauren pointed at Emma.
“After everything I’ve done for you?”
Emma started crying.
Claire moved in front of her.
“Stop.”
“This is your fault!”
Lauren tried to move around Claire.
Claire blocked her.
“You poisoned her against me!”
Emma cried harder.
Margaret finally raised her voice.
“Enough!”
Silence.
Margaret looked at Emma.
“Sweetheart, your mother loves you.”
Emma wiped her cheeks.
“Then why did she leave me?”
Nobody answered.
Emma looked around the room.
“Why did everybody know about Aspen except me?”
Claire slowly turned toward Margaret.
“What?”
Emma looked at her grandmother.
“Grandma knew.”
Margaret’s face tightened.
Emma looked toward Ryan.
“Uncle Ryan knew too.”
Claire turned.
Ryan stared at the floor.
The room became silent.
“You knew?” Claire asked.
Ryan swallowed.
“Not exactly.”
“You knew they were going.”
“Yes.”
“With no Emma.”
“I thought she was staying with Mom.”
Claire turned toward Margaret.
Margaret would not meet her eyes.
“And you?”
Margaret whispered, “Lauren told me Emma was staying with a school friend.”
Emma shook her head.
“No.”
Margaret looked at her.
Emma reached into her pink backpack.
She removed an old tablet.
“I heard Mommy talking to Grandma.”
Lauren suddenly lunged toward her.
“Give me that!”
Michael stepped between them.
Emma pressed play.
Lauren’s recorded voice filled the room.
“Mom, I’m serious. I’m leaving her somewhere. I need one Christmas without that kid.”
Then Margaret’s voice.
“Lauren, just make sure Claire doesn’t find out.”
Claire looked at her mother.
May you like
Margaret went white.
And the social worker quietly reached for her phone.
