Chapter 5 - WHAT NOAH SIGNED
Ms. Torres stepped between them. “Rachel authorized us to collect her records.”
Melissa looked at the folder in Daniel’s hands. “You think paperwork will make you a father?”
“No,” Daniel said. “Noah does.”
For one second, anger crossed Melissa’s face. Then she pulled out her phone.
“You’re trespassing. And your parole officer helped you.”
Ms. Torres showed her Rachel’s signed authorization. “Call whoever you need to.”
Melissa left without another word.
By evening, an attorney named Priya Shah had reviewed the documents. She found a problem with the petition immediately.
“The child’s statement is supposed to describe what Noah told a court worker,” Priya said. “This one reads like someone handed him the words.”
Daniel knew Noah’s handwriting. His name was his. The rest was typed.
Priya requested an emergency hearing. She also asked the facility for Rachel’s medical records, with Rachel’s consent, to establish whether she could have signed the form on the date listed.
That night, Daniel’s phone rang from an unknown number.
“Dad?” Noah whispered.
“I’m here. Are you safe?”
“I found your letters in her car. She said you didn’t want me anymore.”
Daniel closed his eyes. “That was a lie. I wrote every week.”
A floorboard creaked on Noah’s end of the line.
“I have to go,” Noah said. “She heard me.”
“Noah—”
“She keeps a blue box in the garage. She said if you make trouble, she’ll show the judge.”
The call ended.
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An hour later, Priya forwarded Daniel an email from Melissa’s attorney. Attached was a photograph of the blue box.
Inside it sat dozens of unopened envelopes addressed to Noah—and a note that appeared to say Daniel had agreed to give up his son.
