Chapter 3 - The Recording
Mom reached for the phone.
I pulled it away.
“Don’t.”
“Daniel, she edited that.”
“You heard six seconds.”
“I don’t need to hear more.”
“I do.”
Megan shook her head.
“Please.”
But I pressed play.
Mom’s recorded voice continued.
“You think he’ll believe you over me?”
Then Megan.
Weak.
Tired.
“I’m his wife.”
Mom laughed.
“You’re replaceable.”
My stomach turned.
The recording continued.
“I’ve been his mother for thirty-four years. You’ve been around for five.”
“Get out.”
Megan’s recorded voice was stronger now.
“Get out of my house.”
“Our house?”
Mom laughed again.
“Daniel paid the down payment.”
“We’re married.”
“Because you trapped him with Noah.”
I looked at Mom.
“That’s what you think?”
She crossed her arms.
“You know I never approved of how quickly everything happened.”
“Quickly? Megan and I dated for three years.”
“She got pregnant.”
“After we were engaged.”
Mom rolled her eyes.
I nearly laughed.
It was such a small gesture.
But suddenly every uncomfortable dinner, every rude comment, every “joke” about Megan’s parenting came rushing back.
I had excused them all.
That was just Mom.
Mom was protective.
Mom had strong opinions.
Mom didn’t mean anything by it.
Except maybe she had meant all of it.
The recording changed.
A cabinet slammed.
Megan gasped.
Then Mom said something that froze the blood in my veins.
“You’ll eat when I’m finished.”
I looked at Megan.
“What does that mean?”
She looked ashamed.
As though she had done something wrong.
“Tell me.”
Mom snapped, “This is ridiculous.”
I pointed at the door.
“Leave.”
“Daniel—”
“Get out.”
“I’m your mother.”
“And she’s my wife.”
Mom’s face hardened.
“You’re choosing her?”
“I’m choosing to hear what happened.”
“After everything I sacrificed?”
“Not now.”
She grabbed her purse.
“You’ll regret humiliating me.”
“Go.”
She marched toward the door.
Then stopped beside Megan.
I saw her lean closer.
I saw Megan recoil.
“What did you say?”
Mom smiled at me.
“Nothing.”
She left.
I locked the door.
Then I turned around.
Megan was crying silently.
Not dramatic sobs.
Just tears sliding down her cheeks while she stood perfectly still.
I walked toward her.
She backed away.
That hurt more than I expected.
“Megan.”
“I need a minute.”
“What did she do?”
She looked toward Noah.
I lifted him from the floor.
“Buddy, wanna watch your animal show?”
I carried him into the living room, turned on his favorite cartoon, and placed his toys around him.
Then I returned.
Megan sat at the kitchen table.
I placed the prepaid phone between us.
“No more protecting me.”
“I wasn’t protecting you.”
“Then who?”
She looked toward Noah.
“Him.”
My chest tightened.
“What happened?”
She wiped her face.
“Your mother started coming over six months ago.”
“I know.”
“No. You know she visited.”
I waited.
Megan whispered, “You don’t know what she did after she arrived.”
She unlocked the phone and scrolled through photographs.
Bruises.
One on her forearm.
Another near her wrist.
A purple mark along her shoulder.
I stopped breathing.
“She did that?”
“Some of them.”
“Some?”
Megan looked me directly in the eyes.
“Your sister helped her.”
I felt the floor disappear beneath me.
“Rachel?”
Megan nodded.
Then the doorbell rang again.
My phone buzzed.
A message from my sister appeared.
Mom says Megan attacked her. I’m coming over.
Megan looked at my screen.
Her face drained of color.
“Daniel, don’t let Rachel inside.”
May you like
Outside, a fist pounded against the front door.
And my sister shouted my name.
