Chapter 8 - THE CHILD BEFORE LILY
Ryan had been twenty-two when Evan was born.
That was the story Claire told me at two in the morning in a hospital family room.
Evan’s mother was named Jessica.
Ryan had told me Jessica was an old girlfriend.
Nothing more.
Apparently, that was a lie too.
“They lived together for almost a year,” Claire said.
“Why did they split?”
“Jessica caught Mom locking Evan in a bathroom for crying.”
My stomach twisted.
“How old was he?”
“Four.”
I closed my eyes.
Almost Lily’s age.
“Did Ryan defend Jessica?”
Claire gave me a look that answered before she spoke.
“No.”
Of course he didn’t.
“He said Jessica was dramatic. Mom said Evan needed discipline. Jessica took Evan and left.”
“Did Ryan fight for custody?”
“For a while.”
“Then what?”
“Jessica documented everything.”
There it was again.
Evidence.
The one thing people like Diane and Ryan hated more than confrontation.
Documentation.
“Photos?”
“Photos. Text messages. Medical records. She even had an audio recording of Mom screaming at Evan.”
I stared at the floor.
“And Ryan?”
“Eventually signed away most of his custody rights.”
My head snapped up.
“He told me he never wanted children until he met me.”
Claire’s eyes filled with pity.
“He lied.”
I walked to the window.
The city lights below looked blurry through my tears.
My marriage had become a crime scene.
Every memory had to be reexamined.
Every story had another version.
Every promise had an asterisk.
My phone buzzed.
A text.
From Ryan.
I HAVE A RIGHT TO SPEAK TO MY DAUGHTER.
Then another.
YOU’RE LETTING COPS TURN YOU AGAINST ME.
Then:
MOM MESSED UP. I DIDN’T.
Then:
YOU HIT ME FIRST.
I almost laughed.
He was rewriting the night already.
I showed Claire.
“Save everything,” she said.
“I am.”
Another message arrived.
IF YOU TAKE LILY FROM ME, YOU’LL REGRET IT.
Claire’s face changed.
“Show Ruiz.”
I did.
Officer Ruiz photographed the messages and advised me not to respond.
Then my phone rang again.
This time, I recognized the number.
Jessica.
Claire must have contacted her.
My hands shook as I answered.
“Hello?”
A woman spoke quietly.
“Megan?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Jessica Moore.”
I swallowed.
“I know.”
“I heard what happened.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know about Evan.”
“I figured.”
There was no bitterness in her voice.
That almost made it worse.
“Is he okay?” I asked.
“Evan?”
“Yes.”
“He’s fourteen now. He’s okay.”
Relief hit me even though I had never met him.
Jessica continued.
“I kept everything.”
“What do you mean?”
“Every text Ryan sent me. Every message Diane sent. Every court filing.”
My heart started pounding.
“I also kept one video.”
“What video?”
“The one that ended Ryan’s custody case.”
Silence.
Jessica took a breath.
“In it, Ryan tells Evan that hunger makes kids obedient.”
I gripped the phone.
“When can I see it?”
“I already sent it to Officer Ruiz.”
Then Jessica said,
“There’s something else you need to know before Ryan finds a way to explain it.”
My stomach tightened.
“What?”
“He didn’t lose custody of Evan.”
May you like
She paused.
“He agreed to give him up.”
