Chapter 2 - SHE SAID THEY FELLPolice arrived before the ambulance.
Daniel hated that Sophie had to see uniforms in the house.
She clung to him while two officers separated the adults.
Eleanor sat on the sofa with a blanket around her shoulders.
Vanessa remained near the kitchen with Officer Brennan.
Her story was simple.
Eleanor had become confused.
Thought someone was trying to break into the house.
Picked up the bat.
Lost balance.
Fell.
Vanessa had taken the bat away.
Daniel returned at the worst possible moment.
Daniel listened from across the room.
It almost sounded reasonable.
That frightened him.
Because Vanessa had always been good at sounding reasonable.
Officer Brennan approached Daniel.
“Your mother says she doesn’t want to make a statement.”
Daniel looked toward Eleanor.
“What?”
“She says she fell.”
Daniel stared.
“That’s not what I saw.”
“Did you witness anyone strike her?”
“No.”
“Did you witness your wife threaten the child?”
“No.”
Daniel hated the questions because the answers sounded like weakness.
He had arrived too late.
The ambulance crew examined Eleanor.
One paramedic asked when the bruising occurred.
Eleanor said she didn't know.
Vanessa answered for her.
“Yesterday.”
Daniel turned.
“How do you know?”
Vanessa froze.
“You told me.”
“No, you didn’t.”
She recovered.
“I saw her stumble.”
“Yesterday?”
“Yes.”
“You said she fell today.”
Vanessa’s eyes hardened.
“Daniel, this is exactly why we need to slow down. You just got off a plane. You're emotional.”
That phrase angered him more than shouting would have.
Emotional.
As if his reaction were the problem.
Claire—no, there was no Claire here. Daniel caught himself mentally reaching for some rational third party who did not exist.
Only his mother.
His daughter.
His wife.
And a room full of unanswered questions.
The ambulance took Eleanor to Massachusetts General.
Daniel insisted Sophie come too.
Vanessa wanted to ride with them.
“No.”
Her expression changed.
“I’m her mother.”
“And right now Sophie doesn't want you near her.”
Vanessa stared.
“You're using our child against me.”
Daniel looked down.
Sophie’s fingers were dug into the fabric of his jacket.
“She decides who she feels safe with tonight.”
Vanessa said:
“She’s four.”
“Yes.”
“Four-year-olds get frightened by whatever adult is dramatic enough.”
Daniel looked at Eleanor being wheeled toward the ambulance.
“You mean my mother?”
Vanessa said nothing.
At the hospital, Eleanor received scans and blood work.
No broken bones.
No internal injury.
But the doctor examined her face for a long time.
Daniel watched.
“What?”
Dr. Laura Mendel looked at Eleanor, not him.
“Mrs. Hayes, would you like your son to stay?”
Eleanor hesitated.
Then nodded.
The doctor continued.
“These bruises don't appear to have occurred at the same time.”
Daniel felt cold.
“What does that mean?”
“One appears newer. Others are older.”
“How old?”
“Several days, perhaps longer.”
Daniel stared at his mother.
“Mom.”
Eleanor looked away.
Dr. Mendel spoke gently.
“Has someone been hurting you?”
“No.”
Too fast.
Daniel heard it.
The doctor did too.
“Mrs. Hayes—”
“I fell.”
Daniel stood.
“No.”
Eleanor looked at him.
“You didn't fall five different times in five different directions.”
“Daniel…”
“Tell me.”
Her eyes filled.
“Please.”
He stopped.
The fear in her face was the same fear Sophie had shown.
Not of him.
Of consequences.
Daniel sat.
“What are you afraid will happen if you tell me?”
Eleanor looked toward the hallway.
Toward Sophie, asleep against a nurse’s shoulder.
Then she whispered:
“She said she’d make sure you lost Sophie.”
Daniel’s heart stopped.
“Who?”
Eleanor closed her eyes.
A tear moved down her bruised cheek.
May you like
She did not answer.
She didn't have to.
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