Chapter 4 - Nora’s condition
At the hospital, Nora was examined by a pediatric team.
I was not family.
Not legally.
I had no right to sit in her medical room.
That was another useful lesson.
Being the homeowner where a child is found does not turn you into guardian.
I stayed in a waiting area with Ellie.
Vivian had been taken to the station for questioning but not yet formally charged.
Ellie sat against me.
“Where Nora?”
“Doctors.”
“Did bread help?”
“Yes.”
Her face brightened slightly.
Then:
“Vivian mad?”
I could not lie.
“She’s talking to police.”
“Because Nora?”
“Because grown-ups need to understand what happened.”
Ellie looked down.
“Vivian say secret.”
There.
“What secret?”
“She say Nora pretend.”
“Pretend what?”
“Bad house.”
I stopped asking.
A four-year-old should not become an evidence machine because her father is frightened.
A child interviewer could handle it later.
At 4:40 a.m., a hospital social worker came out.
Her name was Susan Patel.
“Nora is medically stable.”
My lungs finally moved.
She continued.
“Mild dehydration. She’s hungry. No evidence of severe malnutrition.”
“How long without food?”
“We don’t know.”
“She had bread.”
“Yes.”
“She said three sleeps.”
“We’ll establish timeline carefully.”
“Any injuries?”
“Some superficial bruising on her knees and one elbow. No fracture. No acute head injury. No sign of sexual abuse based on the limited medical assessment indicated tonight.”
I nodded.
“Can I see her?”
“Not yet.”
“Who can?”
“Her legal placement providers have been contacted.”
Placement providers.
“What does that mean?”
Susan studied me.
“You genuinely don’t know who Nora is?”
“No.”
“Vivian never mentioned her?”
“No.”
Susan looked troubled.
“She is Vivian’s niece.”
The word rearranged everything.
“Niece?”
“Yes.”
“Her sister’s daughter?”
“Yes.”
“Which sister?”
“Paige.”
I knew Paige Morgan.
Barely.
Vivian’s younger sister.
I had been told Paige had moved west two years earlier and wanted little contact with the family.
That was the first family story I learned had been edited.
May you like
There would be many more.
────────────────────
