Chapter 13 - THE HEARING
Margaret's bail hearing drew reporters.
The Carter name had influence.
Margaret had spent years reminding everyone of that.
Now the same name was on every local news site.
She entered court wearing a gray jail uniform.
No pearls.
No expensive coat.
No perfect hair.
For the first time since I'd known her, she looked ordinary.
Her attorney argued that she had no criminal record.
Strong community ties.
A stable marriage.
No flight risk.
The prosecutor stood.
"Your Honor, the defendant is accused not only of assaulting a pregnant woman, but of secretly administering medication intended to induce contractions."
Margaret stared straight ahead.
The prosecutor continued.
"Further evidence suggests this was not an isolated incident."
Claire sat two rows behind us.
Daniel held my hand.
The judge denied bail.
Margaret finally reacted.
She turned toward Daniel.
"Please."
He didn't move.
"Daniel."
His jaw tightened.
"Don't leave me here."
He looked at her.
"You left Emily on the floor."
Margaret started crying.
Real tears.
Maybe for herself.
Maybe for the son she was losing.
Maybe both.
"I love you."
Daniel stared at her for a long moment.
Then he said, "Love isn't supposed to look like this."
The deputy led her away.
Outside the courtroom, Robert waited alone.
Daniel walked past him.
"Son."
Daniel stopped.
Robert looked broken.
"I know I don't deserve anything from you."
"You're right."
"I want to make things right."
"You can't."
"I know."
Robert handed him a folder.
"What is this?"
"The house."
Daniel frowned.
"What?"
"I transferred it."
"To who?"
"Emily and Noah."
I stared at him.
"I don't want your house."
"I know."
Robert nodded.
"Sell it. Burn it. Give it away. I don't care."
He looked at Daniel.
"I should have protected you from her when you were a child."
Then he looked at me.
"And I should have protected you when you joined this family."
I didn't forgive him.
Not then.
Maybe not ever.
But I believed he finally understood what his silence had cost.
Before we could leave, Officer Harris came running down the courthouse steps.
"Daniel."
We turned.
"They found another journal."
My stomach dropped.
"Where?"
"In a storage unit registered under Margaret's maiden name."
Daniel closed his eyes.
"What's in it?"
Harris hesitated.
"A list of women."
Daniel stared at him.
"What women?"
Officer Harris looked at me.
"Every serious relationship Daniel had from age nineteen onward."
There were seven names.
Claire was only one of them.
May you like
And beside three of those names, Margaret had written the same two words.
Problem solved.
