Chapter 14 - THE DOOR HE COULDN’T OPEN
For a moment, Elena wanted to disappear.
She could already see the clip.
Julian with flowers.
Julian with wet eyes.
Julian telling strangers how much he loved the child whose nursery he had emptied.
Then Lily tightened her fingers around Elena’s.
Elena looked down.
“No,” she whispered.
Nora stepped closer.
“You don’t have to go out there.”
“I know.”
That was what made the choice hers.
She asked the nurse to stay with Lily.
Then she asked Nora to come with her.
They stopped inside a private family room near the unit. Hospital security kept the crew out of the clinical area. Julian was brought in only after Elena agreed to speak, with Nora and a security officer present.
Gabriel waited outside.
Julian entered carrying white roses.
Of course.
“Elena.”
He looked at the wheelchair, then at Nora.
His face rearranged itself into concern.
“You look exhausted.”
“I had a baby.”
“Our baby.”
Elena met his eyes.
“You told me I could have her on the ground.”
He glanced at the security officer.
“I never said that.”
“There’s a recording.”
The flowers lowered.
Only an inch.
Enough.
Nora spoke.
“Communication about your daughter will go through counsel. Elena is not discussing custody arrangements in a hospital room.”
Julian ignored her.
“Sweetheart, we’ve both made mistakes.”
“No.”
His smile tightened.
“You really want our daughter growing up around your father?”
“She will grow up around people who don’t call pain an inconvenience.”
“You think you’re going to keep her from me forever?”
“That isn’t a decision you get to force out of me today.”
For the first time, Elena heard herself without apology.
Julian set the roses on the table.
“You have no idea what this will cost.”
She looked at the flowers.
Then back at him.
“I know exactly what staying cost.”
A knock sounded.
Detective Ortiz entered with another officer.
Julian turned sharply.
“What is this?”
“Mr. Vance, we need you to come with us.”
His face hardened.
“On what grounds?”
Ortiz explained that charges had been filed relating to the forged documents and attempted financial transaction.
Julian looked at Elena as though she had broken an agreement.
“You did this.”
“No,” she said. “I stopped helping you hide it.”
As the officers led him out, he twisted toward the corridor.
“Gabriel! Tell them about the money!”
Gabriel stood very still.
“I already did.”
Julian stopped struggling.
That frightened look lasted only a second.
Elena knew she would remember it forever.
When the corridor quieted, Nora checked her phone.
“The trustees finished their review.”
Elena braced herself.
“How much is gone?”
Nora sat beside her.
May you like
“Less than he thought he had.”
Then she opened a document bearing Elena’s mother’s signature.
