Chapter 3 - The Witnesses Arrive
At eleven the next morning, Teresa removed Amy's car keys from the kitchen counter.
Amy noticed immediately.
"Where are my keys?"
Teresa continued arranging champagne glasses.
"I moved them."
"Where?"
"Somewhere safe."
"I need to take Frederick to the clinic if his fever rises."
"Your car is blocking the caterer's van."
"So give me the keys."
Teresa smiled.
"After the party."
Amy stared at her.
"Give them to me now."
Several relatives had already arrived.
They turned toward the argument.
Teresa softened her voice instantly.
"Amy, please don't get worked up."
Amy felt trapped.
"Nobody is worked up. I asked for my keys."
"You've barely slept."
"Because my son is sick."
"Our son," Teresa corrected.
Amy's expression hardened.
"No. Your grandson."
A silence followed.
Teresa's smile disappeared for half a second.
Then Aunt Deborah entered carrying flowers.
Teresa brightened.
"Deborah. Perfect timing."
Within minutes the house filled.
People hugged Teresa.
They complimented the decorations.
They asked why Connor was missing.
Teresa had an answer prepared.
"Important business. Amy insisted we keep the party today anyway."
Amy heard it from the kitchen.
She stepped into the doorway.
"I wanted to cancel."
Teresa laughed.
"See? She's exhausted."
The relatives smiled awkwardly.
Amy looked at Mason.
He stood near the dining table with the black folder tucked beneath his arm.
Their eyes met.
Mason looked away.
Amy understood then.
Something was happening.
Not later.
Now.
She carried Frederick upstairs.
Teresa followed.
"What are you doing?"
"Putting him to bed."
"The photographer arrives in twenty minutes."
"He needs sleep."
"We need photographs."
"Of what?"
"His first birthday."
Amy turned.
"He's sick."
Teresa lowered her voice.
"You will bring him downstairs."
"No."
"You live in my son's house."
"I live in my husband's house."
"Paid for with Bradley money."
Amy stepped closer.
"If you touch my baby, I will call Connor."
Teresa smiled.
"With what phone?"
Amy's hand went instinctively toward her pocket.
Empty.
She had left the phone charging beside the sink.
She rushed downstairs.
It was gone.
"Where is it?"
Teresa slowly entered behind her.
"You misplace things when you're tired."
Amy stared at her.
Mason heard them.
He stepped closer.
"Teresa."
"Stay out of this."
Amy looked at him.
"Do you know where my phone is?"
Mason hesitated.
Teresa's stare stopped him.
Amy understood everything his silence said.
She turned toward the guests.
"Can someone lend me a phone?"
Aunt Deborah immediately reached into her purse.
Teresa laughed.
"She wants to call Connor because the coffee isn't ready."
Amy stared at her.
"Stop lying."
The room became uncomfortable.
Teresa lowered her voice.
"People are watching you."
Amy realized that was exactly the point.
People were watching.
Every argument.
Every tired expression.
Every unfinished plate.
Every moment Frederick cried.
Then Amy saw Mason open the folder.
A printed page sat on top.
Across the center were several lines for signatures.
Amy walked toward him.
"What is that?"
Mason shut the folder.
"Nothing."
"Show me."
Teresa stepped between them.
"Go check the kitchen."
Amy stared at her.
"No."
Teresa's jaw tightened.
"Excuse me?"
"I said no."
Frederick began crying against Amy's chest.
Amy turned to comfort him.
Teresa glanced around.
Then she spoke loudly enough for the relatives to hear.
"See what I mean? The child hasn't stopped crying because she refuses to maintain a routine."
Amy froze.
There it was.
Evidence.
Aunt Deborah looked uncomfortable.
Another cousin whispered something.
Amy saw Mason's face.
He looked sick.
She lowered her voice.
"You're collecting statements."
Mason said nothing.
Amy felt cold despite Frederick's heat against her chest.
"What are you trying to prove?"
Teresa smiled.
"That you need help."
"From you?"
"From responsible adults."
Amy walked straight into Connor's office.
Teresa followed.
The desk drawer where Connor kept financial documents was open.
Amy stopped.
"You've been in his desk?"
"It's family business."
"This room is private."
"So is the future of my family."
Amy turned.
"What future?"
Teresa realized she had said too much.
But Amy had heard it.
She looked at the filing cabinet.
One drawer was slightly open.
Amy moved toward it.
Teresa grabbed her wrist.
Hard.
Amy looked down.
"Let go."
Teresa did.
Immediately.
Mason appeared in the doorway.
"Everything okay?"
Amy looked at him.
"No."
Teresa closed the drawer.
"Everything is fine."
Amy stepped past her.
"No. Something happens today."
Teresa laughed.
"What could possibly happen?"
"I don't know."
Amy looked at Mason.
"But he does."
Mason's eyes dropped.
That was enough.
Amy walked back upstairs and locked herself in the nursery.
For twenty minutes she searched drawers for an old phone.
Nothing.
Then she remembered Connor kept an emergency tablet in the bedside cabinet.
She opened it.
The battery had twelve percent.
Enough.
Amy opened Connor's shared calendar.
His Memphis presentation had ended three hours earlier.
She stared.
Then she checked his travel reservation.
His return flight was scheduled for tomorrow.
Amy typed a message through their shared account.
Call me. Something is wrong.
She pressed send.
The tablet died.
Downstairs, Teresa called Mason into the pantry.
"Did she see anything?"
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"She knows we're collecting signatures."
Teresa's face hardened.
"Then accelerate it."
"What?"
"I need the witnesses signed before tonight."
Mason stared at her.
"Connor isn't supposed to be back until tomorrow."
"Exactly."
Teresa handed him a document.
At the top was a line he had not noticed before.
Effective upon Frederick Bradley reaching twelve months of age.
Mason looked up.
"Midnight?"
Teresa nodded.
"At midnight, control changes."
Mason felt his mouth go dry.
"Unless you stop it."
May you like
Teresa smiled.
"Unless Amy stops it for us."
