Chapter 5
Corinne made bail two days later.
That was when the second war began.
Her lawyer filed a statement claiming I had coached the children.
He said Wren had food anxiety because of grief over Elise.
He said Desmond had a history of lying to protect younger children.
He said Corinne had merely “restricted snacks” after Wren stole.
Stole.
A piece of bread.
I read the statement at my kitchen table and felt my hands go numb.
Mara took it from me before I tore it apart.
“Do not give paper that satisfaction.”
I almost laughed.
Almost.
Then my attorney, Samuel Price, arrived.
He was a family court specialist with tired eyes and a voice that made chaos stand in line.
He reviewed everything.
The videos.
The pantry lock.
The doctor’s report showing Wren had lost four pounds in three months.
Four pounds.
At five years old.
I had missed it because Corinne said she was getting taller.
Because Wren wore loose dresses.
Because I wanted to believe my home was safe.
Samuel looked at me.
“This will be ugly.”
“I know.”
“No,” he said. “You don’t. Corinne will not only defend herself. She will attack Elise.”
My chest tightened.
“She’s dead.”
“That makes her easier to attack.”
He was right.
At the emergency hearing, Corinne wore pale blue.
No jewelry.
No makeup except enough to look tired.
She cried when she saw Desmond.
He sat beside me, holding Wren’s hand.
Corinne mouthed, I love you.
Desmond looked down.
Wren pressed closer to me.
The judge reviewed the evidence.
Corinne’s lawyer argued I had overreacted.
Samuel played one video.
Just one.
Corinne’s voice filled the courtroom.
“Hungry children are quiet children.”
The judge’s face changed.
Then Samuel played the clip where Corinne told Desmond he would be sent away.
My stepson began shaking.
I put an arm around him.
The judge extended the protection order.
No contact.
No visitation.
No residence access.
Mandatory forensic evaluation.
Corinne’s face hardened when she realized tears had failed.
As we left, she pushed past her lawyer and hissed, “Desmond, I am your mother.”
He froze.
I stepped between them.
Before I could speak, Desmond lifted his head.
“Then you should have acted like it.”
Corinne’s mouth opened.
No sound came.
Outside, Wren asked, “Are we safe now?”
I wanted to say yes.
Instead, I said, “We are safer. And I will keep working until it’s safe all the way.”
She thought about that.
Then nodded.
“Okay.”
May you like
Trust had become tiny.
But it was alive.
