Chapter 5 - The Signature
The power of attorney looked real.
That was the worst part.
It had Claire's full legal name. Our address. Her date of birth. My mother's information. A notary seal. Two witness signatures.
And Claire's signature at the bottom.
Claire stared at it for a long time.
"That's my signature," she said.
My stomach dropped.
Then she pointed to the date.
"But I was in Denver that day."
I remembered. Her college roommate's wedding. I had stayed home because of a board meeting.
Dr. Patel asked, "Could you have signed electronically?"
"No. I never saw this document in my life."
Security took the copy and called hospital legal counsel.
My mother was denied entry to the maternity floor.
For the first time since I walked through our front door, I thought we had a little breathing room.
Then Claire said, "Check the witnesses."
One name meant nothing to me.
The other did.
Susan Hale.
Practice manager at Claire's obstetrics office.
My mother's college roommate.
I sat down because my legs suddenly felt unreliable.
"Susan has access to your records."
Claire nodded.
"I figured it out three days ago."
"And you didn't tell me."
She turned her head toward the window.
The words came out harsher than I meant them to.
"Claire, why didn't you call me?"
She looked back at me.
"I did."
I opened my mouth.
"Wednesday night," she said. "You were at dinner with the Singapore team. I told you I needed to talk about your mother. You said, 'Can this wait until I get home?'"
I remembered that too.
I had been standing outside a restaurant. Eleven people waiting at the table. My boss calling my name.
I had said, "Is anyone bleeding? Is the baby okay?"
Claire had said yes.
So I told her it could wait.
Shame is a physical thing. It burns.
"I'm sorry."
"I know."
"No. I don't think you do. I am so—"
A knock interrupted us.
Hospital legal counsel came in with the security officer.
"Mrs. Vale," the attorney said, "your mother-in-law has left the building. But before she left, she made a statement we need to discuss."
"What statement?" Claire asked.
The attorney hesitated.
"She said the power of attorney is legitimate because you signed the original agreement voluntarily."
Claire shook her head.
"There is no original agreement."
The attorney slid a photograph across the tray table.
It showed a document bearing Claire's signature.
Not a copy.
Not a scan.
An original in blue ink.
May you like
Claire stared at it.
Then she whispered, "I know where she got that signature."
