Chapter 2 - The Woman With the Folder
“Take Emily inside,” I told Luke.
My daughter’s fingers dug into my shoulder.
“No.
Please don’t make me go with anybody.”
Luke stopped reaching for her.
“All right, bug,” he said.
“I’ll stand right here.”
Rebecca moved in front of me.
“Daniel, you’re frightening her.”
I looked at the suitcase.
“You packed her clothes.”
“It’s temporary.”
“You told her forever.”
“That is not what I meant.”
The woman from the SUV approached with the brisk confidence of someone arriving for an appointment.
“Mr. Mercer?”
“Who are you?”
“Carol Voss.
Family transition coordinator with Cedar Glen.”
She glanced at Rebecca.
“We were told the ceremony would finish at three.”
“What is Cedar Glen?”
“A residential program.”
“For seven-year-olds?”
“For children who need a more structured environment.”
Emily started shaking again.
I shifted her higher against my chest.
“My daughter needs her father.”
Carol’s expression changed.
“Were you not expecting us?”
“No.”
Rebecca laughed softly, an awful little sound.
“Of course he was.
We discussed this.
He’s overwhelmed.”
Luke stepped beside me.
“Then he can discuss it again.”
Carol opened her folder.
“We have an intake packet, payment confirmation, and signed parental authorization.”
I stared at her.
“Show me.”
Rebecca grabbed the edge of the folder.
“This is private family business.”
“It’s my child.”
Carol hesitated, then handed me a page.
At the bottom was my name.
Daniel Mercer.
The signature looked close enough to fool someone who had never watched me sign anything.
But I had never seen that form.
Beneath it was a second document allowing Emily’s transfer to a separate long-term boarding program after an initial assessment.
My throat tightened.
“Did you sign my name?”
Rebecca looked toward the chapel doors.
Guests were beginning to gather.
“Lower your voice.”
“Did you?”
“We can fix this after the ceremony.”
“There is no ceremony.”
Her bouquet slipped against her skirt.
“Don’t say something you can’t take back.”
I looked at Carol.
“Put the suitcase down.
Step away from my daughter.”
She did.
Immediately.
Rebecca’s mother, Patricia, pushed through the doorway.
“What on earth is taking so long?”
Luke held up the note.
Patricia read it.
She did not look surprised.
May you like
Instead, she looked at Rebecca.
“I told you not to put anything in writing.”
