Chapter 7 - The Locked Supply Room
The plan moved faster the following afternoon.
Mae entered Leah’s room at 3:14 p.m.
Her face was pale.
“Get Owen.”
Leah immediately stood.
“What happened?”
“No questions.”
Mae grabbed the bassinet.
“Walk.”
They moved quickly through the maternity ward.
Leah’s incision burned with every step.
Mae guided her past the nurses’ station.
Then toward an unmarked door near the end of the hallway.
“Inside.”
Leah nearly stumbled over the threshold.
Mae pushed Owen’s bassinet into the cramped supply room.
Then she locked the door.
“Do not come out until I return.”
Leah stared at her.
“Mae—”
“Not even if Nathan calls your name.”
Footsteps approached.
Mae lifted one finger.
“Quiet.”
She slipped outside.
Leah stood beside Owen in the darkness.
Then she heard Doreen.
“Once the psychiatric hold is signed, the baby leaves with family.”
Leah pressed one hand against her mouth.
“Leah doesn’t get a choice.”
Then Nathan answered.
“I know.”
Leah closed her eyes.
Doreen continued.
“You need to stop feeling guilty.”
“She just gave birth.”
“And?”
“She trusts me.”
Doreen’s voice hardened.
“Trust does not pay four million dollars in gambling debt.”
Silence.
Leah felt tears burn her eyes.
Nathan whispered,
“You said she would only be held for three days.”
“That gives us enough time.”
“For what?”
“To establish temporary custody.”
“And afterward?”
“Afterward, we demonstrate that returning Owen would be disruptive.”
Nathan’s breathing became audible through the door.
“I don’t want Leah destroyed.”
Doreen laughed softly.
“You should have considered that before borrowing money from men who threatened to break your legs.”
Leah’s hand tightened around the bassinet.
Then Nathan said something that destroyed the final piece of her marriage.
“Just promise me I still get to see Owen.”
Doreen answered immediately.
“He’s your son.”
Nathan exhaled.
“Okay.”
One word.
That was all it took.
Okay.
He had traded his wife for access to his son and relief from his debts.
Leah looked down at Owen.
The baby stirred.
His tiny face wrinkled.
Leah gently touched his chest.
“Don’t cry.”
But Owen began fussing.
Outside, the voices stopped.
Nathan spoke.
“Did you hear that?”
Footsteps approached.
The supply room handle moved.
“Leah?”
Nathan knocked.
“Leah, are you in there?”
Leah didn’t answer.
The handle rattled harder.
May you like
Then Doreen spoke.
“Open it.”
