Chapter 6 - the cup Rebecca never finished
Rebecca found Lily downstairs with Judith.
Her mother sat in the dark breakfast room holding the baby beside an untouched cup of tea.
Vanessa stood near the window.
“You took her,” Rebecca said.
Judith looked down at Lily.
“She was crying.”
“She was asleep.”
“She needed comfort.”
Rebecca crossed the room and reached for her daughter.
Judith did not release the baby.
“Sit down.”
“Give me Lily.”
“We need to discuss what happened tonight.”
“I’m not discussing anything until she is in my arms.”
Judith studied her for several seconds, then handed Lily over.
Rebecca checked the baby’s breathing, face, hands, and blanket.
She appeared unharmed.
Vanessa sighed.
“That is not normal behavior.”
“Taking a baby from a locked bedroom isn’t normal.”
“The door was open.”
“I blocked it with a chair.”
“There was no chair,” Vanessa said.
Rebecca looked toward the hallway.
The chair had been removed.
Judith pushed the cup of tea across the table.
“You are becoming frightened of ordinary events.”
“I’m frightened of you.”
“That statement alone demonstrates why we need temporary arrangements.”
Rebecca looked at the custody form.
“You prepared this before I came downstairs.”
“It is a precaution.”
“You wrote Vanessa’s name.”
“She is stable.”
Vanessa folded her arms.
“I have a home, a husband, and resources.”
“You live here.”
“Because my house is being renovated.”
“For three years?”
Judith tapped the table.
“Drink your tea.”
Rebecca smelled chamomile and something medicinal beneath it.
She lifted the cup.
Judith relaxed slightly.
Rebecca pretended to sip, allowing the liquid to touch her lips without swallowing.
Then Lily began fussing.
Rebecca used the movement to pour a small amount into the folded cloth beneath the baby’s blanket.
“I’ll consider the form tomorrow,” she said.
Vanessa’s expression brightened.
Judith nodded.
“That is sensible.”
Rebecca carried Lily upstairs, waited ten minutes, then stumbled deliberately into the hallway.
Vanessa appeared almost at once.
“Rebecca?”
“I’m dizzy.”
She leaned against the wall.
Vanessa caught her elbow.
“Mom!”
Judith came from the library without surprise.
Rebecca let her knees weaken.
“Take Lily,” Judith ordered.
Vanessa reached for the baby.
Rebecca tightened her arms.
“No.”
“You’re going to drop her.”
“No.”
Her voice slurred convincingly.
Judith pulled the baby from her.
Rebecca forced herself not to fight. She needed to know what they would do when they believed she was helpless.
They carried her into the bedroom and placed her on the bed.
Vanessa stood over her.
“How much did you use?”
“Enough,” Judith said. “She’ll be disoriented until morning.”
“And the doctor?”
“He will document an episode.”
“What about Dad?”
“He stopped asking questions years ago.”
Rebecca kept her breathing slow.
Vanessa moved toward the door with Lily.
“When do we file?”
“After the party. We need witnesses.”
“Why wait?”
“Because frightened mothers receive sympathy. Dangerous mothers lose custody.”
The door closed.
Rebecca opened her eyes.
She reached beneath the blanket and removed her phone. The recording timer was still running.
She had captured everything.
Or she thought she had.
When she pressed playback, there was no sound.
The screen displayed a message.
Microphone access disabled remotely.
A shadow moved near the wardrobe.
Walter stepped from the hidden corridor.
He held the cassette labeled CLARA, AGE 3.
“They are preparing to make you disappear without removing you from the house,” he said.
Rebecca sat up.
“Where is Lily?”
“With Vanessa.”
She stood.
Walter blocked the door.
“Wait.”
“That is my daughter.”
“And rushing into the hallway gives them exactly the unstable behavior they need.”
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“What am I supposed to do?”
“For the first time in this family,” Walter said, placing the old cassette in her hand, “you are going to let them believe they have won.”
