Chapter 18 - No More Private Rooms
“No,” Daniel said immediately.
Emily looked at him.
He stopped himself.
Then he took a breath.
“Sorry. That is your decision.”
It was a small moment, but Emily noticed it.
Months ago, Daniel would have tried to manage the situation for everyone.
Now he corrected himself before she had to.
Leah explained the conditions.
Margaret would not be alone with Emily. The meeting would happen at the courthouse in a monitored conference room. Leah would be present. Detective Ruiz would be outside. Emily could leave at any moment.
“What does she want?” Emily asked.
“She says she wants to apologize.”
Emily almost laughed.
“Does she need me to accept it?”
“No.”
“Does the plea depend on me forgiving her?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Then I’ll hear her.”
Daniel looked worried but nodded.
The meeting happened two days later.
Margaret entered wearing county-issued clothing beneath a plain jacket. Without her jewelry, perfect hair, and sharp posture, she looked smaller.
Emily hated that the sight stirred pity.
Pity had kept her silent before.
Margaret sat across from her.
For ten seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Margaret whispered, “I’m sorry.”
Emily waited.
Margaret’s eyes filled.
“I was scared.”
“Of me?”
“Of losing my family.”
“So you hit me.”
Margaret flinched.
“I wasn’t myself.”
Emily’s face went still.
“No.”
Margaret looked up.
“You were yourself. That is the problem.”
Leah said nothing.
Margaret’s tears stopped almost instantly.
“You came here to punish me.”
“I came here to hear whether you could tell the truth.”
“I said I was sorry.”
“Then say what you are sorry for.”
Margaret’s jaw tightened.
Emily continued.
“Say you hit me because you thought I would stay quiet. Say you forged my name because you thought Daniel would doubt me. Say you tried to make me look like a thief so you could keep control.”
Margaret stared at her.
Finally she whispered, “You took him from me.”
There it was.
Emily leaned back.
“No. Daniel grew up.”
Margaret’s face twisted.
“You think he’ll stay with you forever?”
Emily stood.
“That is between Daniel and me.”
Margaret looked suddenly desperate.
“If you walk out, I’ll tell them nothing.”
Emily paused at the door.
“Then don’t.”
She opened it.
“I am not trading my dignity for your confession.”
The hallway tilted beneath her feet.
A hard pain wrapped around her abdomen.
Emily grabbed the doorframe.
Leah jumped up.
“Emily?”
Warm fluid ran down Emily’s leg.
May you like
She looked at Leah in shock.
“My water just broke.”
