Chapter 9 - What Diane Buried)
Emma underwent the procedure shortly after midnight.
The family was moved to a private consultation room.
No one sat together.
Caleb occupied one corner.
Daniel stood near the window.
Diane sat alone.
The distance between them measured more than furniture.
For thirty minutes, nobody spoke.
Then Caleb asked:
“Who is Robert Vale?”
Mom closed her eyes.
“Caleb.”
“You keep saying my name like that’s an answer.”
“He was a doctor.”
“You lied about Michael.”
“Yes.”
“You lied about Emma’s condition.”
“Yes.”
“Are you lying about this too?”
Mom looked at her son.
“No.”
“Then explain it.”
Daniel finally turned from the window.
“I’d like to hear it too.”
Diane rubbed both hands over her face.
“When I met Michael, I was twenty-five.”
Caleb leaned forward.
“He was charming. Intense. Everything happened quickly. We moved in together after four months.”
“Was he dangerous?” Daniel asked.
“At times.”
“What does that mean?”
“He had a temper.”
“Did he hurt you?”
“Not physically.”
Daniel waited.
Diane continued.
“He monitored where I went. Who I called. What I wore. When I became pregnant, it became worse.”
Caleb’s anger softened.
“Why didn’t you leave?”
“I did.”
She looked toward the treatment area.
“Eventually.”
“What does Dr. Vale have to do with it?”
Diane inhaled.
“Michael had been treated by Dr. Vale for years because of the clotting condition.”
“Okay.”
“During my pregnancy, Michael insisted Dr. Vale coordinate some of my care.”
Daniel frowned.
“A hematologist?”
“He had hospital privileges and knew Michael’s family history.”
“What happened when Emma was born?”
Diane’s eyes filled.
“She had complications.”
Caleb went still.
“What complications?”
“She stopped breathing for less than a minute after delivery.”
The words fell heavily.
Daniel asked, “Why didn’t you ever tell her?”
“Because she recovered.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
Diane nodded.
“No. It isn’t.”
She stared at the floor.
“Dr. Vale told me there was nothing to worry about.”
“Then why is Michael afraid of him?”
Diane hesitated.
“Because Michael later became convinced something improper had happened.”
“What?”
“I don’t know.”
Caleb laughed in disbelief.
“You always don’t know exactly when it matters.”
Diane winced.
“He claimed blood samples had been taken without permission.”
“From Emma?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“Genetic testing?”
“Possibly.”
Daniel looked at her.
“You said Emma was never tested.”
“I was told she wasn’t.”
“By who?”
“Dr. Vale.”
Caleb stood.
“So you had letters telling you she should be tested, but maybe she already was?”
“I don’t know.”
Daniel’s voice became dangerously quiet.
“What happened six years ago?”
Diane looked at him.
“Robert called me.”
“When Emma was twelve?”
“Yes.”
“What did he want?”
“He said Michael was trying to access old records.”
“Why?”
“He didn’t explain.”
“Did you tell Michael where Emma was?”
“No.”
“Did Robert know?”
“Yes.”
Caleb and Daniel looked at each other.
Diane realized what they were thinking.
“No. Robert did not give Michael our address.”
“How do you know?” Daniel asked.
“Because Michael never came.”
Caleb held up Emma’s phone.
“But someone knows where she goes to school. Someone knew we were at the hospital yesterday.”
Diane had no answer.
A knock interrupted them.
Dr. Ramirez entered.
Mom stood.
“How is she?”
“The procedure went well.”
Diane’s knees nearly gave way.
Daniel grabbed her elbow.
The doctor continued.
“We removed a significant portion of the clot. Her oxygenation is improving, and her blood pressure is stabilizing.”
Caleb began crying before anyone else.
He turned his face away.
Daniel pulled him close.
Mom covered her mouth.
Dr. Ramirez gave them a moment.
“She’ll remain in intensive care. The next several hours are important, but she responded well.”
Mom whispered, “Can we see her?”
“One at a time soon.”
He glanced at a tablet.
“There is something else.”
The relief vanished.
“What?”
“We ran an initial genetic panel because of the family history.”
Mom nodded.
“It confirms Emma carries Factor V Leiden.”
Diane closed her eyes.
Daniel looked at her.
Dr. Ramirez continued.
“But there’s a discrepancy.”
Caleb stopped crying.
“What kind?”
The doctor looked at Diane.
“Our lab system shows Emma had genetic testing performed before.”
The room went silent.
Mom whispered, “That’s impossible.”
“It was many years ago.”
“How many?”
Dr. Ramirez looked at the date.
“Eighteen.”
May you like
Diane stopped breathing.
“The sample was collected the day Emma was born.”
