Chapter 6 - The Woman on the Witness Line
Dana answered on the fourth ring. I could hear traffic and the turn signal in her car.
"Adam? I was just about to call. Mom says you shoved her down."
"I separated her from Mara. She was pulling Mara's hair while Mara held Elsie."
The turn signal clicked three more times. "What?"
"Tell me about the guardianship form."
Silence.
"Dana. Your name is on it."
"Mom said it was for emergencies." Her voice grew small. "She brought the papers to my apartment on a Sunday. She said you'd already signed and needed me to witness the packet because the notary couldn't make it."
"Did you watch me sign?"
"No."
"Did she ask you to say you did?"
Dana didn't answer at first. Then she said, "She told me it would hurt your family if I made a fuss."
I leaned against the kitchen counter. Dana, a public-school music teacher, had spent her life keeping Mom happy.
"Will you tell Sofia exactly that?" I asked.
"I need to see the form."
"I'll send a photo. But don't talk to Mom about this yet."
The phone buzzed before I could hang up. A message from Mom appeared above the call: YOUR WIFE IS SICK. ONE DAY YOU'LL THANK ME FOR TRYING TO SAVE THAT CHILD.
Dana asked if she'd heard a notification. I read it aloud. She whispered a curse.
"Adam, there's something else." A car horn sounded behind her. "Mom came by my school on Tuesday with a little pink sweater. She said she might be taking Elsie out of state for a while."
"Out of state where?"
"Columbus. To Aunt Ruth's. I thought you knew."
I looked toward the nursery, where Mara was humming against Elsie's head. Our daughter hadn't even received her two-month shots. I pictured my mother packing her into the back seat while Mara slept upstairs.
"Did Mom give you a date?"
May you like
"Friday," Dana said. "She said the arrangement would be finalized Friday."
Friday was tomorrow.
