Chapter 4 - Sign Here)
Beatrice poured Ethan a drink without asking whether he wanted one.
They were in Charles's old library.
Rain tapped against the tall windows.
The black folder rested between them.
"What is it?" Ethan asked.
"A temporary guardianship authorization."
"No."
"You haven't read it."
"I don't need to."
Beatrice sat opposite him.
"You are working too much. Noah spends most of his time here."
"He's leaving with me tomorrow."
For the first time, Beatrice's composure slipped.
"Leaving?"
"We're going back to Boston."
"Absolutely not."
Ethan almost smiled.
"You understand he's my child, right?"
"He is a Langley."
"Those are not the same thing."
Beatrice leaned forward.
"This is his home."
"No. It is a house."
"A house your grandfather built."
"A house my father placed in Noah's trust."
The words escaped before Ethan could stop them.
Silence.
Beatrice's face did not move.
But her fingers tightened around her glass.
"What did you say?"
Ethan realized his mistake.
He stood.
"Forget it."
Beatrice stood too.
"Did Rebecca Sloan contact you?"
Ethan said nothing.
Her eyes changed.
The mask disappeared.
Not completely.
Enough.
"Ethan, whatever Rebecca showed you, understand that your father was heavily medicated."
"He knew exactly what he was doing."
"Charles was dying."
"And apparently still smart enough to protect his grandson."
Beatrice laughed once.
A cold sound.
"Protect him from whom?"
"You tell me."
She stared at him.
Then she looked toward his coat.
Ethan instinctively followed her gaze.
The folded trust certificate was inside the inner pocket.
When he looked back, Beatrice was smiling again.
"You're tired."
"I'm not signing anything."
"Fine."
She closed the black folder.
"We'll discuss it tomorrow."
"There is nothing to discuss."
Beatrice walked toward the door.
"Ethan?"
He looked at her.
"Don't confuse paperwork with power."
She left.
Ethan remained in the library for nearly a minute.
Then he opened the folder she had left behind.
The first page looked ordinary.
Temporary caregiving authorization.
Medical consent.
Emergency decisions.
Then he reached page seven.
The language changed.
In the event of incapacity, emotional distress, prolonged absence or professional obligation on behalf of Ethan Langley, primary residential authority regarding Noah Alexander Langley shall transfer to Beatrice Langley.
Ethan felt his stomach turn.
He photographed every page.
Then he called Rebecca.
"She brought me the guardianship papers."
"Did you sign?"
"No."
"Good."
"She knows about the trust."
A pause.
"Then get Noah out tonight."
Ethan looked toward the windows.
The storm had intensified.
"I planned to leave tomorrow morning."
"Change the plan."
"Rebecca."
"I am serious."
"So am I."
He closed the folder.
"I want to know what she's hiding."
"That is less important than Noah's safety."
Ethan knew she was right.
He found Nora in the kitchen.
"Pack Noah's things."
She looked at him.
"We're leaving?"
"Tonight."
Relief appeared on her face.
Then fear.
"Your mother will stop you."
"She can't."
Nora glanced toward the hallway.
"She will try."
Ethan went upstairs.
Noah was asleep.
His small hand rested beside his face.
Ethan stood near the crib longer than necessary.
He thought about Olivia.
The last night before her hospital procedure, she had stood in their bedroom holding Noah.
Promise me something, she had said.
Anything.
If anything ever happens to me, don't let anyone convince you they love him more than you do.
At the time, Ethan had kissed her forehead.
Nothing is going to happen to you.
He hated himself for remembering that.
Behind him, the nursery door creaked.
Beatrice stood there.
"Planning a trip?"
Ethan moved between her and the crib.
"We're leaving."
"During a storm?"
"Yes."
"How dramatic."
"Move."
She did not.
Instead, she looked at Noah.
"You think Olivia would want you running away?"
"Don't say her name."
"She made you weak."
Ethan stepped closer.
"Move."
Beatrice stared at him.
Then she moved aside.
As Ethan passed, she whispered, "You still don't know what your wife did."
He stopped.
"What does that mean?"
Beatrice smiled.
"Ask Rebecca why Charles changed the trust exactly fourteen days before he died."
Ethan's pulse quickened.
"I know why."
"No."
She leaned closer.
"You know what Charles wanted you to believe."
Ethan turned.
"What did Olivia do?"
Beatrice's expression became almost sympathetic.
"She gave your father something."
"What?"
"Something that made him change his entire estate plan."
Ethan waited.
Beatrice looked toward Noah.
"Find that, and maybe you'll finally understand why I refuse to let her son take everything from me."
Then she walked away.
Ethan looked at his sleeping child.
Her son.
Not Ethan's son.
The wording was deliberate.
May you like
And suddenly Ethan knew there was another secret.
One his mother believed could destroy Noah's place in the family forever.
