Chapter 12 - the child ruth thought belonged to her)
Ruth did not explode.
That would have been easier.
Instead she sat in Daniel's chair and folded her hands.
"Send Denise out."
Denise looked at Emily.
Emily nodded.
Once the door closed, Ruth said, "You think you've won."
"This isn't a game."
"It became one the moment you decided to investigate family instead of speaking to me."
"I asked you what happened Sunday."
"And you were hysterical."
"You threatened me."
"I warned you."
"Khloe's passport is in a suitcase in your closet."
For the first time Ruth looked surprised.
Emily continued.
"One way ticket to Tampa."
Ruth recovered.
"A contingency."
"For kidnapping my daughter?"
"Don't be stupid."
"Then explain it."
"Khloe needs stability."
"She has stability."
"She has a mother working sixty hours a week."
"Because your son died."
Ruth flinched.
Emily continued.
"She has a grandmother who steals her lunch money."
"Tyler took that."
"And you crushed her food."
"She was being disrespectful."
"She's seven."
"Seven year olds understand rules."
"Did she understand guardianship law?"
Ruth's eyes hardened.
"Enough."
"Did she understand why she was copying my signature?"
Ruth stood.
"Stop acting like I tortured her."
Emily's anger surged.
"You taught a child that helping her grandmother meant forging her mother's name."
"She was practicing."
"For you."
Ruth stepped closer.
"Do you know what it was like watching you raise Daniel's daughter as if I were a guest?"
Emily stared.
"There it is."
"What?"
"The part you never say out loud."
Ruth looked away.
Emily's voice softened.
"You don't think Khloe is mine."
"I think she belongs to the family."
"People don't belong to families."
"Spare me."
"You think because Daniel died, your claim became stronger than mine."
Ruth's eyes filled.
"My son is dead."
"So is my husband."
"You can marry again."
The cruelty landed exactly where Ruth intended.
Emily felt it.
Ruth continued.
"You can build another life. Have another child. Change your name."
Emily said nothing.
"I cannot have another son."
"And that makes Khloe a replacement?"
"No."
"Then what?"
Ruth's voice cracked.
"She is what remains."
Emily saw it then.
Not love.
Grief twisted into possession.
Ruth had lost Daniel and decided everything associated with him must freeze in place.
House.
Money.
Name.
Child.
Emily could move forward.
Therefore Emily was dangerous.
"You were afraid I'd remarry."
Ruth looked away.
"Daniel warned me."
Emily almost laughed.
"He warned me about you."
Ruth's head snapped back.
Emily continued.
"He recorded you."
Ruth went pale.
"He wrote to me."
"You're lying."
"He told me you had my signature."
Ruth's lips parted.
"He removed you from the trust because you asked what happened if I became incapacitated."
Ruth stared.
Emily stepped closer.
"Daniel knew exactly who you were before he died."
Ruth slapped her.
The sound cracked through the office.
Emily's cheek burned.
Neither woman moved.
Ruth looked at her own hand as if surprised.
Then the door opened.
Tyler stood there.
Behind him was Denise.
And behind Denise, Mark.
Tyler looked from Ruth to Emily.
"What happened?"
Emily touched her cheek.
"Your mother ran out of arguments."
Mark stepped forward.
"Emily?"
"I'm fine."
He looked at Ruth.
"You need to leave."
Ruth laughed.
"This is my son's house."
Emily answered.
"No. It isn't."
"Daniel bought it."
"We bought it."
"He would never throw me out."
Emily's voice became quiet.
"He told me not to let Tyler move in."
Tyler stared.
"What?"
Ruth looked at him.
Emily continued.
"He wrote it down."
Tyler's face changed.
Ruth snapped, "She is lying."
Emily looked at him.
"He knew about the rent."
Tyler went still.
"All sixty eight thousand."
Ruth said, "Tyler, don't."
"He knew Mom paid your gambling debts."
"Shut up."
"He was going to report the theft."
Tyler's breathing changed.
Ruth stepped toward Emily.
Mark blocked her.
"Enough."
The doorbell rang.
Guests.
Ruth looked toward the hallway.
Then at Emily.
"You want a spectacle?"
Emily shook her head.
"You planned the spectacle."
Ruth's face hardened.
"Fine."
She picked up the cream folder.
"Let's see whose story they believe."
Mark whispered, "Emily, don't let her take documents."
"Let her."
He frowned.
Emily looked at the folder.
"She wants an audience."
Ruth walked into the living room.
Over the next twenty minutes, relatives arrived.
The minister.
Daniel's cousins.
Old neighbors.
Aunt Patricia.
Uncle George.
People who loved Daniel.
People Ruth had carefully invited.
Witnesses.
Exactly as she wanted.
At eleven fifty five, Sarah arrived with Khloe.
Two police officers remained outside in an unmarked car with another patrol unit nearby.
Khloe saw Ruth and immediately moved behind Sarah.
Ruth's face tightened.
"Come here, sweetheart."
Khloe shook her head.
Ruth forced a smile.
"Don't be silly."
Emily crossed the room.
Khloe ran to her.
Emily knelt.
"You don't have to say anything today."
Khloe whispered, "I want to."
"Are you sure?"
A nod.
"What do you want to say?"
Khloe looked toward Ruth.
"That I didn't want to write your name."
Emily hugged her.
"That's enough."
At noon, Ruth tapped a glass.
The room quieted.
She stood beneath Daniel's photograph.
"My son loved this family."
Emily almost could not bear the irony.
Ruth spoke about Daniel for six minutes.
His childhood.
His generosity.
His loyalty.
Each word sounded sincere.
That was what made Ruth dangerous.
She did love Daniel.
She simply believed love gave her ownership.
Finally Ruth said, "Daniel's death left responsibilities that some of us have struggled to carry."
Emily felt Mark shift near the doorway.
Ruth continued.
"Emily has made a brave decision."
Emily took Khloe's hand.
The room waited.
May you like
Ruth lifted the cream folder.
And the opening scene began.
