Chapter 7 - The Car Seat
Two weeks later, our driver called me.
Margaret had ordered him to install Noah's car seat in her vehicle.
“Why?”
“She said she was taking him to visit Ms. Hayes.”
Claire's sister.
Amanda.
I had not approved any visit.
I called Amanda.
“Are you expecting Mom?”
“No.”
“Did she call?”
“No.”
Then Amanda went quiet.
“Daniel, what's happening?”
I did not know.
I called Margaret.
“Where are you taking Noah?”
“To see his aunt.”
“No.”
“He should know Claire's family.”
“I agree. We schedule visits together.”
“You're at work.”
“That doesn't make you his parent.”
Her voice turned cold.
“Someone needs to think long-term.”
“What does that mean?”
She hung up.
I reached Emily before Margaret could leave.
Emily refused to hand Noah over.
Margaret threatened to fire her again.
Emily recorded part of the argument on her phone because she was frightened.
Not secretly for revenge.
To document why she disobeyed a household authority figure.
On the recording, Margaret said:
May you like
“Daniel cannot keep that child here forever just because he's guilty about Claire.”
That was the first time I called a lawyer.
