Chapter 7 - The Father Behind the Glass
Travis pressed his palm against the glass.
His eyes were red.
I felt nothing.
A nurse approached me.
“He has permission to view the babies from outside.”
I nodded.
He was still their father.
Biology did not disappear because love had.
But whatever remained of our marriage had died on the living-room floor.
Travis mouthed my name through the glass.
I looked away.
Ten minutes later, a nurse handed me a folded note.
It was from him.
Natalie, please let me explain.
I tore it in half.
Another note came.
I made a terrible mistake.
I tore that one too.
The third said something different.
My mother pressured me.
That one made me laugh.
Quietly.
Bitterly.
Lauren was sitting beside me.
“He always does that.”
She whispered.
“What?”
“Blames her after doing exactly what she says.”
I looked at her.
“You spent twenty-nine years watching this family.”
“You knew who they were.”
Lauren nodded.
“I did.”
“And I became like them.”
Her honesty surprised me.
“I took Mom's side because it was easier.”
“She rewards whoever agrees with her.”
“And punishes whoever doesn't.”
I looked through the glass at Travis.
“Then he can enjoy his reward.”
The next morning, a hospital social worker arrived.
Her name was Karen Fields.
She explained that because the circumstances involved possible medical abandonment of newborn children before birth, the hospital had made a mandatory report.
Travis would not be allowed unsupervised access to the twins until an assessment was completed.
That was when he finally lost control.
I heard him shouting from the hallway.
“You cannot keep me from my own children.”
Security blocked him.
Then Deborah arrived.
Her voice carried all the way into my room.
“This woman is poisoning everyone against my son.”
I closed my eyes.
Not because I was scared.
Because I was exhausted.
Deborah tried pushing past a nurse.
Security stopped her.
Then she made the worst mistake possible.
She shouted loudly enough for half the maternity floor to hear.
“If Natalie had listened and stayed calm, none of this would have happened.”
Detective Ortiz happened to be stepping off the elevator.
She stopped.
“Mrs. Brooks.”
Deborah turned.
“What?”
Detective Ortiz walked toward her.
“You mean if Natalie had followed your instructions?”
Deborah realized too late what she had said.
“I didn't mean—”
“Were you giving her instructions that afternoon?”
“No.”
“But you just said she should have listened.”
Deborah's mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Lauren stepped into the hallway behind me.
“I’m ready to make my statement.”
She said.
Deborah slowly turned toward her daughter.
The look on her face was terrifying.
“You wouldn't.”
Lauren's voice shook.
“Yes.”
“I would.”
May you like
And for the first time in that family, someone other than me chose not to obey Deborah.
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