Chapter 8 - The Medical Route
Dana Ruiz did not raise her voice.
She did not need to.
“Mr. Mercer,” she said, “I suggest you stop speaking until your counsel is present.”
Daniel gave a bitter laugh. “You can’t walk into my home and threaten me.”
Dana glanced at me. “Is this his home?”
I almost smiled.
The deed was held by Vance Residential Holdings.
A trust company.
My trust company.
Daniel knew that, but only when it benefited him.
Charles stepped inside. “Emily, may we sit?”
I nodded.
Margaret remained near the doorway like she was deciding whether running would look worse than staying.
Dana placed the evidence bag on the table, right beside the $500 envelope.
The contrast was almost absurd.
“What is the medical route?” I asked.
Charles’s eyes softened. “We believe Daniel’s attorney prepared draft language to seek emergency control based on postpartum mental incapacity.”
My chest tightened.
Lily made a small coo from the bassinet.
I looked at her.
Postpartum mental incapacity.
I remembered every time I had cried from exhaustion and Daniel had watched me too carefully.
Every time he said, “You seem confused.”
Every time Margaret told me, “Maybe you shouldn’t drive today.”
Every appointment Daniel insisted on attending.
Every question he answered for me before I could open my mouth.
Dana slid another page across the table.
A typed timeline.
March 4 - forgot pediatric bag.
March 11 - crying in kitchen.
March 16 - angry about card restriction.
March 18 - attempted unplanned visit to sister.
“Attempted?” I whispered.
That was the day Daniel took the keys because he said the car needed service.
It had been sitting in the garage the entire afternoon.
Daniel stood behind a chair, gripping the top rail.
“You were exhausted,” he said. “I was documenting reality.”
“No,” I said. “You were creating one.”
Margaret finally spoke. “Nobody was going to take your child.”
Dana looked at her.
“Interesting that you brought that up.”
Margaret’s face went pale.
Dana opened her portfolio and removed one final document.
A draft petition.
I saw Lily’s name before anything else.
TEMPORARY CUSTODY REQUEST.
My vision narrowed.
May you like
Then I read the proposed guardian.
Margaret Mercer.
