Chapter 6: The Weekend She Tried to Take
“You are not coming into our home,” Connor told Loretta.
She stood on his front step holding the interim order.
“Then Amy cannot remain alone with Lily.”
“Nora has agreed to supervise.”
Loretta’s eyes narrowed.
“Nora was not named.”
Rachel stepped into view behind Connor.
“The order permits any adult approved by Family Services.
Helen approved Nora twenty minutes ago.”
Nora raised her phone.
“I have the email.”
Loretta folded the order.
“This changes nothing.
The hearing is Monday, and I have witnesses.”
“People you pressured?” Amy asked from the hallway.
“People who saw you lose control.”
“I cried because you had kept me working without food.”
“You dropped a glass.”
“It slipped while I was holding Lily and washing your dishes.”
Loretta’s mouth curved.
“A mother who cannot hold a child and a glass at once should put one of them down.”
Connor stepped onto the porch and closed the door behind him.
“Leave.”
Loretta lowered her voice.
“Sign my agreement tonight and all of this disappears.”
“You mean the evidence disappears.”
“I mean Amy keeps her reputation, you keep your house, and I make sure Lily is provided for.”
“You already took money meant for Lily.”
Loretta moved closer.
“Be careful, Connor.
Your wife may forgive you for calling me, but will she forgive you when she learns whose signature authorized that withdrawal?”
Connor went still.
Loretta smiled.
“Ask your lawyer to examine it.”
She walked away before he answered.
Inside, Amy stood beside the crib.
“What did she mean?”
“I don’t know.”
“Don’t protect me from another truth.”
Connor took the bank statement from Rachel and found the authorization page.
His name appeared beneath the withdrawal request.
“I did not sign this.”
Amy stared at the signature.
“It looks like yours.”
“That is exactly how I sign.”
Nora set a casserole on the counter and removed her coat.
“Loretta kept Walter’s old business files.
Connor signed dozens of papers when he worked there during college.”
Rachel called the trust accountant and put the conversation on speaker.
A woman named Miriam answered.
“I processed the request after receiving it from Loretta’s email.”
“Did you speak to Connor?” Rachel asked.
“No.
Loretta said he was traveling.”
“I was at home with my newborn daughter,” Connor said.
Miriam’s breath caught.
“Then I need to send you something.”
An email arrived containing the original request and an internal note.
The request claimed the money would pay for specialized care for Lily.
Amy gripped Connor’s sleeve.
“She used our daughter’s name.”
Miriam spoke again.
“There is another problem.
Loretta asked me yesterday to delete the scanned authorization.”
“Did you?” Rachel asked.
“No.
I moved it to the audit folder and contacted the bank.”
A second attachment appeared.
It showed that the money had gone to a company called L.M.
Home Consulting.
Nora sat down hard.
“Those are Loretta’s initials.”
“Can you testify Monday?” Amy asked.
Miriam hesitated.
“Loretta has been my client for eleven years.”
Amy’s shoulders dropped.
Then Miriam’s voice sharpened.
“Yes.
I can testify.
Loyalty does not require me to lie.”
Amy covered her face.
A sob escaped before she could stop it.
Nora crossed the room and wrapped both arms around her.
“Let it out.
I should have challenged Loretta years ago.”
“You brought us food,” Amy whispered.
“You brought the recording.”
“I watched my sister make people smaller so she could feel taller.
I won’t watch again.”
Rachel’s phone rang.
She listened, then turned toward them.
“That was the court clerk.
Loretta has added another witness.”
“Who?” Connor asked.
May you like
Rachel looked at Amy.
“Your former doctor.”
