Chapter 5 - The Signature
That evening, Nathan brought Leah dinner from her favorite Italian restaurant.
He smiled.
He kissed her.
He held Owen for almost an hour.
If Leah hadn’t seen the forged authorization, she might have believed everything was normal.
Nathan looked exhausted.
He also looked terrified.
Leah decided to test him.
“I want to go home tomorrow.”
Nathan’s hand froze against Owen’s blanket.
“The doctor hasn’t cleared you.”
“I’m feeling better.”
“You had surgery.”
“I can recover at home.”
Nathan looked down at their son.
“We should follow the doctors’ recommendations.”
“We?”
Nathan frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“It means they’re treating me.”
“Obviously.”
“Then why did your mother authorize a psychiatric consultation?”
Nathan’s face drained.
Leah had guessed.
His reaction confirmed it.
“She what?”
“Don’t.”
Leah’s voice remained calm.
“Don’t pretend you didn’t know.”
Nathan carefully returned Owen to the bassinet.
“Leah, you need to stop.”
“Stop what?”
“Turning everything into a conspiracy.”
The word landed exactly where Leah expected.
Conspiracy.
Another word for the chart.
Another word that could be repeated to a psychiatrist.
Leah understood now.
Every argument was evidence.
Every raised voice was evidence.
Every accusation was evidence.
So she smiled.
“You’re right.”
Nathan blinked.
“What?”
“I’m tired.”
She settled against the pillow.
“Maybe I’m overthinking things.”
Relief appeared instantly on his face.
That hurt more than anger would have.
Nathan kissed her forehead.
“Get some sleep.”
After he left, Leah waited twenty minutes.
Then she called the attorney Mae had recommended.
Her name was Evelyn Grant.
Leah explained everything.
Evelyn listened without interrupting.
Then she asked one question.
“Has anyone asked you to sign temporary guardianship paperwork?”
“No.”
“Then they may not have reached the final step.”
“What final step?”
“The psychiatric hold removes you from immediate decision-making.”
Leah’s throat tightened.
“Then what?”
“If your husband remains the legal father, he doesn’t need guardianship.”
Leah frowned.
“Then why involve Doreen?”
Evelyn became quiet.
“That is an excellent question.”
The answer came the following morning.
Mae entered Leah’s room carrying copies of laboratory results.
Hidden between the pages was another document.
A petition.
TEMPORARY EMERGENCY CUSTODY.
Applicant: Doreen Margaret Carver.
Leah read the document twice.
Then she reached the paragraph explaining the grounds.
The petitioner alleged that Leah had exhibited severe psychological instability.
That she had threatened self-harm.
That she had attempted to leave the hospital with the infant against medical advice.
That her husband feared for the child’s safety.
And beneath the statement was Nathan’s signature.
Leah stared at it until the letters blurred.
May you like
Her husband had not merely known.
He had signed.
